Roadkill

Загибель тварин від зіткнення з автотранспортом: аналіз факторів впливу. Пархоменко, В.-На основі польових досліджень автора у 2000-2020 рр. на різноманітних автошляхах по всій території України та опрацювання літературних джерел були виділені та проаналізовані фактори, що впливають на динаміку загибелі тварин від зіткнення з автотранспортом. Створено їх класифікацію та розглянуто ступінь впливу кожного з них. Зокрема, виділено 24 фактори, з яких три («Стан дороги та рівень догляду за нею», «Характеристики транспорту» та «Зоогеографічний район») наводяться вперше. Всі фактори розподілено на три групи: 1) Фактори, пов'язані з транспортом, дорогою та водієм-всього 12 факторів; 2) Природні чинники-4 фактори; 3) Фактори, пов'язані з тваринами-8 факторів. Найбільший вплив мають десять факторів: структура дороги та тип покриття; стан дороги та рівень догляду за нею; швидкість транспорту; наявність заходів для попередження загибелі тварин на автошляхах; погодні умови; сезон; рельєф; біотоп; розмір, забарвлення та швидкість пересування тварини; трофічний фактор. Хоча вони мають нерівномірний вплив на різні групи тварин, проте, значно впливають на інші фактори. Серед усіх факторів переважає сезон, оскільки він впливає на активність безхребетних: у теплий період року на дорозі гине значна кількість комах, які приваблюють багатьох дрібних тварин-хижаків та некрофагів, як джерело їжі. Збираючи комах, ці тварини теж гинуть під колесами транспорту, приваблюючи некрофагів, які теж гинуть. Додатково розглянуто особливості загибелі тварин на автошляхах у зоні АТО. Також обґрунтовано доцільність створення споруд для попередження загибелі тварин на автошляхах-оскільки лише 1-3 % від загальної довжини автошляхів потребують побудови цих заходів. Також, автором запропонована класифікація автошляхів, оскільки стандартна виявилася малоприйнятною для аналізу. У публікації використано низку авторських фотографій (36), а також 5 графіків, які наводять статистичний аналіз для окремих факторів. Ключові слова: загибель тварин на автошляхах, фактори впливу, моніторинг, Україна.


Deaths of animals caused by motor vehicles: analysis of impact factors. Parkhomenko, V.-Based on the author's field studies in 2000-2020 on different types of roads throughout Ukraine and literature data, the factors influencing in the deaths of animals caused by collision with motor vehicles are selected and analyzed. They are classified and the degree of impact is considered for each of them. Particularly, 24 factors are selected, of which three ("Condition of the road and level of care for it", "Characteristics of vehicle" and "Zoogeographical area") are proposed. All the factors are distributed into 3 groups: 1) connected with vehicle, road and driver-totally 12 factors; 2) natural-4 factors; 3) connected with animals-8 factors. Ten factors have the biggest impact: structure of the road and the surface type; condition of the road and level of care for it; speed of vehicles; availability of measures to prevent death of animals on the highways; weather conditions; season; relief; biotope; size, colouration and speed of movement of the animals; trophic factor. Though having uneven impact for different groups of animals, they have considerable impact into other factors. The season prevails all other factors, as it influence into activity of the invertebrates: in the warm season numerous insects die on the roads attracting small predators and scavengers as food. While picking insects, these animals also die under the weels of vehicles, attracting the necrophages, which also die. In addition, the features of animal deaths on the roads in the war area are considered. Furthermore, the expediency of creating structures to prevent the death of animals on highways is substantiated, because only 1-3 % of the total length of roads need such structures. A classification of the roads is proposed by the author, for the standard classification was found to be inappropriate for the analysis. A series of 36 author's photographs is used, along with 5 plots showing results of the statistical analysis for certain factors.

oad network have changed landscapes and influenced nature in Serbia substantially. The most distinctive impact on animals is fatalities due to collision with vehicles, while populations are being impacted indirectly through barrier effect, habitat loss, disturbance and pollution. Roadkill mammals have been recorded extensively on Serbian roads 1990-2017. Species list is compiled showing frequency of casualties in three-level scale by road categories. From a total of 104 wild mammal species of Serbia, 44 are recorded as road casualties, most frequently Northern White-breasted Hedgehog, Red Fox, Beech Marten, Eurasian Badger, Black-bellied Hamster and Common Vole, while European Mole, Golden Jackal, Western and Steppe Polecat, Least Weasel, Eurasian Otter, European Hare, Eurasian Red Squirrel, European Ground Squirrel and Striped Field Mouse are moderately frequent; 5 domestic species are also recorded as casualties, most frequently dogs and cats. 3/4 of the affected species are protected by law, and threatened species' casualties are also recorded-Eurasian Lynx, European Ground Squirrel and Marbled Polecat. Systematic roadkill monitoring was carried out 1994-1996 on the stretch of road through the Obedska Bara Nature Reserve; the majority of casualties were small mammal species that are neither threatened nor protected. Relevant Serbian legislation is concluded to be adequate, but prescribed and contemporary technical solutions to avoid and mitigate adverse impacts are rarely implemented. Recommendations that can improve protection and conservation of mammals on Serbian roads are set forth.
Mreža puteva u Srbiji značajno je promenila predele i uticala na prirodu. Najinvazivniji uticaj na životinje nastaje direktnim usmrćivanjem usled sudara sa vozilima, a indirektno menjanjem demografskih populacionih parametara usled barijere, gubitka staništa, uznemiravanja i zagađenja. Stradanja sisara na drumovima Srbije ekstenzivno je beleženo 1990-2017. Sastavljena je lista vrsta sa frekvencijom stradanja u trostepenoj skali i prema kategoriji puteva. Od ukupno 104 divlje vrste zabeleženo je stradanje 44, od kojih najčešće stradaju jež, lisica, kuna belica, jazavac, hrčak i poljska voluharica, a umereno često krtica, šakal, stepski i mrki tvor, lasica, vidra, zec, veverica, tekunica i prugasti miš; zabeleženo je i stradanje 5 domaćih vrsta, a najčešće žrtve su psi i mačke. 3/4 vrsta čije je stradanje zabeleženo zaštićene su zakonom, a zabeleženo je i stradanje ugroženih vrsta-risa, tekunice i šarenog tvora. U periodu 1994-96. na deonici puta koji prolazi kroz SRP Obedska bara sistematski je vršen monitoring stradanja, a zaključeno da većinu žrtava čine sitni sisari koji nisu ugroženi ni zaštićeni zakonom. Zaključeno je da Srbija ima odgovarajuću legislativu, ali da se propisana i savremena tehnička rešenja za sprečavanje i smanjenje štetnih uticaja u praksi retko primenjuju. Date su preporuke koje mogu unaprediti zaštitu i očuvanje sisara na drumovima Srbije.

Abstract
Road infrastructures are one of the biggest manmade changes to the natural environment. They promote the loss of biodiversity in a constantly
threatened world. This study set out to estimate the road mortality of vertebrates (roadkill) along two roads (the RA8 and Via Comacchio) in
the Eastern Po River plain that lead from the city of Ferrara to the Northern Adriatic coast, crossing a territory rich in natural areas. The goals
were to investigate which factors enhance or, on the contrary, reduce vertebrate mortality and ultimately to study possible mitigation measures
that could help to contain the phenomenon. The RA8 is a highway used by high levels of trucks and cars, while Via Comacchio is a provincial
road mainly used by local residents. The RA8 was affected by 46 roadkills (km-1year-1). Via Comacchio was affected by 10 roadkills (km-1year-1).
The most important explanatory variables were the road morphology (such as the presence of underpasses and road barriers and the level of the
road), the proximal habitat (such as rows of trees and reed beds) and the intensity of the traffic. Mitigation measures should focus on factors that
decrease the numbers of casualties, for example underpasses, external fences and rows of trees. This kind of study could make it possible in the
future to understand how to contain roadkill and how to decrease the ecological barrier effect of roads. Ecological, economic and road safety
benefits could be relevant.
Key words: Road ecology, vertebrates, roadkill, Po River delta.
Riassunto
Mortalità stradale della fauna selvatica nei pressi di aree di interesse conservazionistico nella Pianura Padana orientale
Le strade rappresentano una delle maggiori alterazioni apportate dall’uomo agli ambienti naturali e favoriscono la perdita di biodiversità in un
mondo ricco di altre minacce. Questo studio vuole stimare e confrontare la mortalità stradale dei vertebrati lungo due strade (RA8 e Via Comacchio)
nella Pianura Padana orientale che collegano la città di Ferrara alla costa adriatica settentrionale, attraversando il medesimo territorio ricco
di aree naturali. Lo scopo è quello di individuare quali fattori incrementano o, al contrario, diminuiscono la mortalità dei vertebrati e di fornire
elementi per trovare possibili mitigazioni per contenere il fenomeno. RA8 è un raccordo autostradale intensamente percorso da automobili e camion,
mentre Via Comacchio è una strada provinciale percorsa per lo più da traffico locale. RA8 ha fatto registrare 46 vittime km-1anno-1 contro
le 10 vittime km-1anno-1 della Via Comacchio. Le variabili esplicative più influenti sono risultate la morfologia stradale (con la presenza di barriere
e sottopassi e l’elevazione della strada), le caratteristiche degli habitat prossimali (come la presenza di alberi e canneti) e l’intensità di traffico. Le
misure di mitigazione dovrebbero concentrarsi sui fattori che riducono il numero di vittime, per esempio sottopassi, barriere esterne e filari di
alberi. Con questo tipo di studi in futuro sarà possibile comprendere come contenere i roadkill e come diminuire l’effetto barriera ecologica delle
strade. I benefici ecologici, economici ed in termini di sicurezza potrebbero essere rilevanti.
Parole chiave: ecologia delle strade, vertebrati, mortalità stradale, Delta del Po.

Roads are a widespread and increasing feature of most landscapes. We reviewed the scientific literature on the ecological effects of roads and found support for the general conclusion that they are associated with negative effects on biotic integrity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Roads of all kinds have seven general effects: mortality from road construction, mortality from collision with vehicles, modification of animal behavior, alteration of the physical environment, alteration of the chemical environment, spread of exotics, and increased use of areas by humans. Road construction kills sessile and slow-moving organisms, injures organisms adjacent to a road, and alters physical conditions beneath a road. Vehicle collisions affect the demography of many species, both vertebrates and invertebrates; mitigation measures to reduce roadkill have been only partly successful. Roads alter animal behavior by causing changes in home ranges, movement , reproductive success, escape response, and physiological state. Roads change soil density, temperature, soil water content, light levels, dust, surface waters, patterns of runoff, and sedimentation, as well as adding heavy metals (especially lead), salts, organic molecules, ozone, and nutrients to roadside environments. Roads promote the dispersal of exotic species by altering habitats, stressing native species, and providing movement corridors. Roads also promote increased hunting, fishing, passive harassment of animals, and landscape modifications. Not all species and ecosystems are equally affected by roads, but overall the presence of roads is highly correlated with changes in species composition, population sizes, and hydrologic and geomorphic processes that shape aquatic and riparian systems. More experimental research is needed to complement post-hoc correlative studies. Our review underscores the importance to conservation of avoiding construction of new roads in roadless or sparsely roaded areas and of removal or restoration of existing roads to benefit both terrestrial and aquatic biota. Revisión de los Efectos de Carreteras en Comunidades Terrestres y Acuáticas Resumen: Las carreteras son una característica predominante y en incremento de la mayoría de los paisajes. Revisamos la literatura científica sobre los efectos ecológicos de las carreteras y encontramos sustento para la conclusión general de que las carreteras están asociadas con efectos negativos en la integridad biótica tanto de ecosistemas terrestres como acuáticos. Las carreteras de cualquier tipo ocasionan siete efectos generales: mortalidad ocasionada por la construcción de la carretera; mortalidad debida a la colisión con vehículos; modificaciones en la conducta animal; alteración del ambiente físico; alteración del ambiente químico; dis-persión de especies exóticas e incremento en el uso de áreas por humanos. La construcción de carreteras elimina a organismos sésiles y a organismos de lento movimiento, lesiona a organismos adyacentes a la car-retera y altera las condiciones físicas debajo ella misma. Las colisiones con vehículos afectan la demografía de muchas especies tanto de vertebrados como invertebrados; las medidas de mitigación para reducir la pér-dida de animales por colisiones con vehículos han sido exitosas solo de manera parcial. Las carreteras al-teran la conducta animal al ocasionar cambios en el rango de hogar, movimientos, éxito reproductivo, re-spuesta de escape y estado fisiológico. Las carreteras cambian la densidad del suelo, temperatura, contenido de agua en el suelo, niveles de luz, polvo, aguas superficiales, patrones de escurrimiento y sedimentación, además de agregar metales pesados (especialmente plomo), sales, moléculas orgánicas, ozono y mutrientes a los ambientes que atraviesan. Las carreteras promueven la dispersión de especies exóticas al alterar los hábi

We report the acanthocephalan Pachysentis gethi parasitizing lesser grison Galictis cuja from Brazil. This study is the first report of this acanthocephalan species since the original description from 1950. Therefore, this report constitutes the rediscovery of this parasite after 65 yearsof its unique record.

Roadkill is one of the most striking ecological impact of the roads, that can have direct consequences on animal populations and sometimes pose danger to people. The paper gives the results of a 4-year monitoring campaign of vertebrate roadkill along a two-lane municipal road in the Eastern Po Valley. The road connects the city of Ferrara (Italy) with the border of the Natura 2000 site IT4060016, crossing arable lands, orchards, and residential villages. Mean mortality has been of 10.5 ind./km/year, like previous results from a similar road in the same landscape. Mammal mortality, with 4.1 ind./km/year, has resulted 27 times higher than on similar roads in the Western Po Valley. The most affected taxa have been the hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, toads (Bufotes balearicus and Bufo bufo), sparrows (Passer italiae and Passer sp.), Columbidae, Athene noctua and unidentified birds. Traffic volume was inversely correlated with mortality: traffic decreased from the city towards the Natura 2000 site while mortality increased. The vertebrate community close to the protected area was clearly distinct. Mortality has not changed among years but has changed among seasons, peaking in July both for number of killed animals and for number of involved taxa but also showing other peaks in early spring and autumn. Some particularly dangerous road stretches have been identified, where solutions for roadkill mitigation may be adopted. Climate warming can change the timing of reproductive migration, changing the exposure risk to roadkill.