Mortality of vertebrates on a road crossing the Biebrza Valley (NE Poland) |
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Authors: | Jakub Gryz Dagny Krauze |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Forest Ecology and Wildlife Management, Forest Research Institute, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland;(2) Department of Forest Protection and Ecology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland |
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Abstract: | Mortality of vertebrates was monitored on a local road running across Poland’s Biebrza River Valley during 2 years (August
2005–July 2006). On the basis of distance from the river and surrounding habitats, the road (of total length 2,510 m) was
divided into three stretches. The road was monitored on foot by two people every month, over a few consecutive days. A total
of 1,892 road kills representing at least 47 species were found. Of these, 90.7% were amphibians, 4.2% mammals, 3.1% birds
and 2.0% reptiles. Most (70%) of the amphibians were anurans, with the common toad, common frog and moor frog among them together
accounting for 82% of the total. Mortality among amphibians differed between months, most anurans dying in May and August,
while a majority of Urodela are lost in October. The peaks in mortality were connected with the migration of adult amphibians in spring and juveniles
in summer and autumn. The number of amphibians killed was greatest on the (wettest) stretch adjacent to the river and decreased
with distance from it. Mortality among birds was highest in July—probably in association with the dispersal of young individuals.
Among recorded mammalian road kills, there was a prevalence of small rodents (mainly voles) and insectivores (mainly shrews).
Medium-sized mammals were found only accidentally. Mortality in general was conditioned by the number of anurans killed. |
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Keywords: | Biebrza National Park Road losses Amphibians Birds Mammals |
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