No abstract

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.

<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>