, I researched the impacts of the Blennerhassett Island Bridge upon vegetation, soil, and the following wildlife groups: waterbirds, songbirds, anurans, turtles, small mammals, and furbearers. Comparisons were made to two other islands (Buckley Island [bridge crossing present for about 45 years] and Muskingum Island [no bridge crossing]), to three distances from the bridge (0 [under], 100, and 300 m), and to pre-construction data collected during the 1985-1987 and 1998-2000 time periods. Over the course of this study, 170 plant, 19 waterbird, 60 songbird, 7 anuran, 5 turtle, 9 small mammal, and 4 furbearer species were detected among the three islands. Also, 19 soil variables were analyzed. Vegetative communities were different under the bridge compared to other sampling distances and pre-construction data. Vegetative communities were composed of species from the seed mixture used for reclamation, exotic and invasive species, and disturbance tolerant species with low herbaceous cover and minimal woody plants. Thirteen soil variables (phosphorus, bray II phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, soluble sulfur, zinc, aluminum, copper, total exchange capacity, organic matter, and estimated nitrogen released) had altered levels under the Blennerhassett Island Bridge and/or Buckley Island Bridge. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) abundances were lower at islands with bridges. Songbird abundances were lower under the bridge and species composition differed compared to other distances with generalist species present under the bridge. Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), and common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) abundances were lower under the bridge and rock pigeon (Columba livia), cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) abundances were highest under bridges. Overall small mammal abundance, richness, and diversity were lower under the new bridge compared to other distances and abundances of Peromyscus spp. were lower under the new bridge. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) occurrences were lower under the new bridge compared to other sites and distances. Anurans and turtles showed no differences among islands and distances. The Blennerhassett Island Bridge was found to have some impacts to vegetation, soil, and wildlife. These impacts, however, are minor in scale and are mostly limited to the area directly under the bridge and did not impact large portions of Blennerhassett Island or the adjacent mainlands. Some of these impacts under the bridge include: altered soil chemistry, altered amount and type of vegetation, attraction of exotic and non-native vegetation, lower abundances and different composition of songbirds, attraction of urbanized songbird species, lower abundance, richness, and diversity of small mammals, and changes and alteration in habitat. I recommend that all possible care should be taken during future bridge construction to minimize environmental impacts to vegetation, soil, and wildlife and to restore the imp...

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<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';color:black;font-size:10pt;">Construction of man-made objects such as roads and bridges can influence wildlife presence and abundance. We invest</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';color:black;font-size:10pt;">tigated waterbirds, songbirds, anurans, turtles, small mammals, and furbearers along the Ohio River, WV, at a new bridge crossing, a 45-year old bridge, and 1 or 2 islands with no bridge and at 3 distances from the bridge or center point at each site (0 m,100 m, and300 m). We sampled 19 waterbird, 60 songbird, 7 anuran, 5 turtle, 9 small mammal, and 4 furbearer species. Great blue heron (<i>Ardea herodias</i>) abundances were greater at the site with no bridge. Songbird composition differed among sites and between transects under and away from the bridge with higher abundances or association of rock pigeon (<i>Columba livia</i>) and cliff swallow (<i>Petrochelidon pyrrhonota</i>) under the bridges and lower abundances ofCarolinawren (<i>Thryothorus ludovicianus</i>) and common yellowthroat (<i>Geothlypis trichas</i>) under the bridges. Total small mammal abundance, diversity, and richness were lower under the new bridge compared to other sites and distances. We conclude that overall the new bridge is causing minimal relative abundance impacts to wildlife. However, great blue heron abundance may be altered due to noise and activity from the presence of the bridge and mi</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';color:black;font-size:10pt;">nor short-term impacts to some songbirds and small mammals directly under the bridge in the form of habitat conver</span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman','serif';color:black;font-size:10pt;">sion, fragmentation, and loss due to removal of vegetation is apparent.</span>

Construction of man-made objects such as roads and bridges may have impacts on wildlife depending on species or location. We investigated songbirds and small mammals along the Ohio River, WV, USA at a new bridge both before and after construction and at a bridge crossing that was present throughout the study. Comparisons were made at each site over three time periods (1985-1987 [Phase I] and 1998-2000 [Phase II] [pre-construction], 2007-2009 [Phase III] [post-construction]) and at three distances (0, 100, 300 m) from the bridge or proposed bridge location. Overall, 70 songbirds and 10 small mammals were detected during the study. Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and rock pigeons (Columba livia) showed high affinity for bridges (P < 0.05). Combined small mammal abundances increased between Phases I and II (P < 0.05), but did not differ between Phases II and III (P > 0.05). Species richness and diversity for songbirds and small mammals did not differ before and after bridge construction (P > 0.05). We found that most species sampled did not respond to the bridge crossing, and believe that the bridge is not causing any measurable negative density impacts to the species we investigated. The new bridge does provide habitat for exotic rock pigeons that are adjusted to man-made structures for nesting.