Are wildlife overpasses of conservation value for birds? A study in Australian sub-tropical forest, with wider implications

Pell, Stuart; Jones, Darryl

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.02.005

Cited by 21 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Overall, many studies agreed that crossing structures alone where not as effective as expected [98][99][100][101][102], and those studies that reported road mortality rates more often saw reductions ranging from 10 to 20% [103,104]. Nevertheless, two studies speculated that crossing structures were still biologically effective as low crossing frequencies may be enough to maintain functional connectivity [105,106].…”

Section: Survey Design and Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

Bennett

2017

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

137

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The development and presence of roads can reduce landscape permeability, lead to habitat loss, and increase habitat fragmentation. It is these fundamental changes in landscape structure that can have both direct and indirect impacts on the conservation of species and biodiversity. In this review, I examine 215 research studies conducted between 2011 and 2015 that explore the impacts of roads and road networks on a wide range of species. I divided these studies into four main categories: 1) the direct effects of roads on wildlife, 2) the indirect effects of roads on wildlife, 3) the consequences of road networks on wildlife populations, and 4) survey design and mitigation including both innovations and evaluations. I found that the majority of studies (38%) explored the indirect effects of roads on wildlife, including displacement, fitness consequences, and road crossing ability of wildlife. Nevertheless, despite there being a pressing need to understand how existing road networks impact wildlife and how increasing road density may influence local and regional population persistence, only 10% of the studies considered the implications of road networks on wildlife. However, there is an increasing trend towards the development of predictive models that can be used for a better understanding of road network impacts, assess landscape connectivity, and devise mitigation. This review also highlighted the continued need to devise and evaluate mitigation measures so transportation authorities and conservation practitioners may be better equipped to address the ecological implications of roads and proposed road development.

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Section: Survey Design and Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

Bennett

2017

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

137

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“…The Compton Road fauna overpass is a component of a diverse array of fauna crossing structures in south Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, which were constructed specifically to facilitate the movement of medium to large mammals. The overpass has since been shown to provide road permeability for a range of target and non-target taxa including mammals (Bond and Jones, 2008;Taylor and Goldingay, 2012), herpetofauna (McGregor et al, 2015) and birds (Pell and Jones, 2015). The success of this overpass for non-target species in particular, has been attributed to the established vegetation that integrates the overpass into the surrounding forest (McGregor et al, 2015;Pell and Jones, 2015), facilitating habitat continuity across Compton Road.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overpasses have traditionally targeted medium to large mammals (Forman et al, 2003;Glista et al, 2009;Clevenger and Ford, 2010); however, the presence of vegetation has been found to enhance utility by non-target taxa such as birds, reptiles and bats, by establishing a continuation of the natural landscape (Bond and Jones, 2008;Pell and Jones, 2015). Fully vegetated overpasses, particularly those which closely resemble the surrounding natural habitat, have been shown to encourage diverse overpass use by non-target species (McGregor et al, 2015) including small mammals (Bond and Jones, 2008), herpetofauna (Bond and Jones, 2008;Mata et al, 2008), birds (Pell and Jones, 2015) and potentially bats (Bach and Muller-Steiss, 2005;Abbott et al, 2015). Although some studies have observed the use of underpasses by bats (Abson and Lawrence, 2003;Bach et al, 2004;Abbott et al, 2012;Berthinussen and Altringham, 2012), overpasses have only recently been suggested as a mitigation tool for potentially improving road permeability for bats (Bach and Muller-Steiss, 2005;Berthinussen and Altringham, 2012;Abbott et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Realization of this misconception has facilitated increased research efforts on volant species (e.g., birds: Pell and Jones, 2015;bats: Lesinski, 2008;Bennett and Zurcher, 2013), ultimately showing that urbanization, and the subsequent decrease in habitat connectivity, reduction of remnant habitat and increased anthropogenic disturbance, can reduce species richness, abundance and activity in volant species including bats (see review by Russo and Ancillotto, 2014). Roads in particular, have been shown to directly influence bat mortality (Medinas et al, 2013) by posing significant barriers to movement (Abbott et al, 2012;Bennett and Zurcher, 2013) and restricting dispersal for roosting and foraging (Abbott et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vegetated Fauna Overpass Disguises Road Presence and Facilitates Permeability for Forest Microbats in Brisbane, Australia

McGregor

Matthews²,

Jones

2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

Self Cite

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The effects of urbanization on flying vertebrates historically have been underestimated, with roads in particular impacting bat populations through vehicle collisions, habitat fragmentation and unwillingness to disperse across roads. Although vegetated fauna overpasses have not traditionally been considered as beneficial for microbats, these structures have recently been identified as a potential solution for assisting microbat communities. In Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the Compton Road fauna overpass traverses a four-lane road, facilitating connectivity for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians between two forest reserves. This study examined patterns of activity and species richness of microbat assemblages in relation to the Compton Road fauna overpass. Call recordings made over 7 months identified nine species and two species groups (groups of species unable to be differentiated), all of which were recorded using the overpass. Bat activity on the overpass was higher than in the adjoining forest, with higher detectability. Species richness and activity at the roadside where the overpass was present was also higher than the unvegetated roadside. Activity patterns based on feeding behaviors suggest that forest species such as Nyctophilus and Myotis spp. were using the overpass, alongside more generalist species. The vegetation on the overpass is likely to be the key factor encouraging microbat activity. The Compton Road overpass appears to lessen the impact of road presence and may facilitate permeability of a major road, suggesting potential for enhancing habitat connectivity and facilitating crossings. This study is the first indication that vegetated fauna overpasses can facilitate activity and provide natural habitat continuity for diverse Australian microbat communities.

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Functionality of two canopy bridge designs: successful trials for the endangered black lion tamarin and other arboreal species

et al. 2022

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Are wildlife overpasses of conservation value for birds? A study in Australian sub-tropical forest, with wider implications

Cited by 21 publications

References 30 publications

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

Effects of Road Density and Pattern on the Conservation of Species and Biodiversity

Vegetated Fauna Overpass Disguises Road Presence and Facilitates Permeability for Forest Microbats in Brisbane, Australia

Functionality of two canopy bridge designs: successful trials for the endangered black lion tamarin and other arboreal species

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