A review of the impact of pipelines and power lines on biodiversity and strategies for mitigation

Richardson, Matthew L.; Wilson, Benjamin A.; Aiuto, Daniel A. S.; Crosby, Jonquil E.; Alonso, Alfonso; Dallmeier, Francisco; Golinski, G. Karen

doi:10.1007/s10531-017-1341-9

Cited by 50 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Given that LTI managers have most interest in knowing the potential of linear transportation infrastructure (LTI) verges as a corridor for biodiversity and that we found few studies addressing this question we advise to dedicate resources on the monitoring of vertebrate movements on verges. The systematic review on insect biodiversity on LTI verges led to the same recommendation, with even fewer studies on the role of corridor of verges for insects (2 studies) than for vertebrates (7). Also, for vertebrates, when they exist the studies rarely directly measured movements on verges.…”

Section: Implications For Researchmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Linear transportation infrastructures (LTIs) have led to habitat loss and degradation, fragmentation and barrier effects, light and noise disturbance, chemical pollution and direct mortality (e.g. road kill, electrocution) [3][4][5][6][7][8]. In particular, the splitting of natural habitats and ecosystems into smaller and more isolated patches (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute a habitat and/or a corridor for vertebrates in temperate ecosystems? A systematic review

et al. 2020

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Background: Linear transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, oil and gas pipelines, powerlines and waterways) generate well documented fragmenting effects on species habitats. However, the potential of verges of linear transportation infrastructures (road and railway embankments, strips of grass under power lines or above buried pipelines, or waterway banks) as habitat or corridor for biodiversity, remains controversial. In a context of constant loss of natural habitats, the opportunities of anthropogenic areas for compensating the loss of biodiversity they generated have to be considered. This paper is the first synthesis of evidence addressing this topic for vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles) in temperate ecosystems. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature survey using two online publication databases, three search engines, specialist websites, and by sending a call for literature to subject experts. We successively screened the articles for relevance on titles, abstracts and full texts using criteria detailed in an a priori protocol. We then used six specific questions to categorize the retained studies and to critically appraise them. These questions encompassed the potential of verges as habitats and corridors for vertebrates, and the effects of landscape and management on these potentialities. We critically appraised all studies to assess their risk of bias and created a database of the studies with low and medium risk of bias. We synthesized results for each specific question in narrative syntheses. Finally, studies that met meta-analysis requirements were used for quantitative syntheses. Results: Our initial searches identified 83,565 documents. After critical appraisal, we retained 119 documents that reported 128 studies. Most studies were conducted in Europe (49%) and in the United States of America (22%), and were about mammals (61%) and birds (20%). Results from the narrative synthesis and meta-analyses converged and revealed that the potential of linear transportation infrastructures verges to constitute a habitat for vertebrate species varies according to the infrastructure and the biological group considered. Especially, highway verges may be a refuge for small mammals but seems detrimental to birds. The potential also varied depending on the landscape considered, with urbanisation being related to lower biodiversity hosted by verges. We found a wide variety of verge

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Section: Implications For Researchmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute a habitat and/or a corridor for vertebrates in temperate ecosystems? A systematic review

et al. 2020

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“…The power lines pose additional effects of electromagnetic fields which cause avoidance by some animals (Bartzke et al, 2014) . Oil spills from pipelines add to the effects, despite being rare they can be very devastating on environment and last for longer time (Richardson et al, 2017). Most of the available studies are not only based in Europe and America (Benítez-López, Alkemade & Verweij 2010;Richardson et al, 2017), but they are also largely focused on large animals in relation to separate infrastructure types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oil spills from pipelines add to the effects, despite being rare they can be very devastating on environment and last for longer time (Richardson et al, 2017). Most of the available studies are not only based in Europe and America (Benítez-López, Alkemade & Verweij 2010;Richardson et al, 2017), but they are also largely focused on large animals in relation to separate infrastructure types. This focus may not always be considered as effective representative of small mammals (Caro, 2001) especially from tropical savannahs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Multiple Linear Infrastructure on Diversity of Small Mammals in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Kisanga¹,

Nyahongo²,

Mtemi³

2019

ENRR

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The need for rapid development in developing countries has led to establishment of major public infrastructure even in biodiversity rich protected areas. Mikumi National Park in central Tanzania is traversed by five such major infrastructures namely an optic fibre, a busy public road, an oil pipeline, power lines and railways. We assessed diversity and abundance of small terrestrial mammals of the order Eulipotyphla and Rodentia as indicator groups in relation to impacts of such infrastructure. Animals were live trapped during wet (February-April) and dry (July- September) seasons in 2018 from three established plots along the three transects set perpendicular to each of the four infrastructures. In 10102 trap nights, we captured 453 small mammals of nine species of which Mastomys natalensis constituted 75.4 % of total catch. Diversity and abundance varied between seasons, infrastructure and plots location. Dry season had significantly higher diversity than wet season and the railway site had higher diversity than the other infrastructure. The intermediate plots (500 m from infrastructure) had significantly higher abundance of animals than immediate (0-50 m) and distant (1000 m) plots. The differences in these results can be attributed by seasonal fluctuations of animal populations, and intensity of disturbance in each infrastructure and plot. It is important to examine impacts of future infrastructure developments using small mammals.

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“…The key drivers of biodiversity loss have been identified as land use and land cover changes, pollution, climate change, and infrastructure development [3][4][5][6][7]. Linear infrastructures such as roads, railways, powerlines, pipelines, and irrigation canals have negative impacts [8,9], including habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance due to barrier and edge effects, encroachments, road mortality, enhancement of invasive species, and increased illegal activities such as poaching and logging [9][10][11]. These sorts of development also alter and reshape habitats [12], which result in reduced wildlife population sizes and viability [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Assessment of the Potential Impact of Infrastructure Development on Biodiversity Conservation in Lowland Nepal

Sharma

Rimal

Stork

et al. 2018

IJGI

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Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate with infrastructure development being one of the leading causes. New infrastructure, such as roads, provides new access and results in increased land clearing and wildlife hunting. A number of large infrastructure projects, including new roads and rail, are being planned in Nepal. We show the application of readily available remotely sensed data and geospatial tools to assess the potential impact of these future developments on habitat quality under three protection-level scenarios. Our findings reveal that there is currently large spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality across the landscape as a result of current anthropogenic threats, and that three areas in particular could have up to 40% reduction in habitat quality as a result of the planned infrastructure. Further research is required to determine more precisely the impact on key species. Strengthening protected areas and buffer zones will contribute to mitigating degradation to some degree, however, large areas of biologically significant areas outside protected areas will be affected without new controls. Our geographic information systems (GIS) based methodology could be used to conduct studies in data poor developing countries, where rapid infrastructure development across ecological sites are ongoing, in order to make society, policy makers, and development planners aware.

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A review of the impact of pipelines and power lines on biodiversity and strategies for mitigation

Cited by 50 publications

References 54 publications

Can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute a habitat and/or a corridor for vertebrates in temperate ecosystems? A systematic review

Can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute a habitat and/or a corridor for vertebrates in temperate ecosystems? A systematic review

Influence of Multiple Linear Infrastructure on Diversity of Small Mammals in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

Spatial Assessment of the Potential Impact of Infrastructure Development on Biodiversity Conservation in Lowland Nepal

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