Characterizing Movement Patterns and Spatio-temporal Use of Under-road Tunnels by Long-toed Salamanders in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Pagnucco, Katie S.; Paszkowski, Cynthia A.; Scrimgeour, Garry J.

doi:10.1643/ce-10-128

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…In our site, the water table was generally high, a factor that also influenced the type of tunnels used as wider (1 m) concrete box culverts that sit entirely below the road surface were considered at high risk of long-term flooding. In the long-toed salamander, Pagnucco et al (2012) also found that in the spring, movement through tunnels was not strongly dependent on precipitation and Reading (1998) noted no effect of rainfall in the timing of migration in the common toad. Therefore, the influence of climatic conditions on the number of movements through tunnels may vary depending on species, site and tunnel-specific factors such as tunnel length, diameter, substrate type as well as site positioning, vegetation type and water table.…”

Section: Influence Of Weathermentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Additionally, it typically requires licenced personnel and is inherently expensive given that traps need to be checked at least twice daily. Pagnucco et al (2012) found that the crossing success rate in the long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) in North America was 23% in immigrating individuals but only 1% in emigrating individuals, highlighting large seasonal differences within the same population. Smith et al (2010) using remotely triggered cameras in under road tunnels concluded that installation of road tunnels provides an effective and safe route of travel for a diversity of animals including long-toed salamanders (A. macrodactylum), especially if drift fences are in place to direct amphibians towards tunnels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies have attempted to monitor the success of such tunnels, usually using drift fences and pitfall traps at the entrances to tunnels (e.g. Jolivet et al 2008;Pagnucco et al 2012;Matos et al 2017). However, tunnel usage by amphibians appears highly variable both within and between species and pitfall trapping can introduce bias in the data by restricting animal movement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Road mitigation using tunnels and fences promotes site connectivity and population expansion for a protected amphibian

Jarvis¹,

Hartup²,

Petrovan

2019

Eur J Wildl Res

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Habitat loss and fragmentation due to urbanisation and road developments have substantial impacts on amphibian populations and road mitigation measures are increasingly used in order to reduce such risks. However, numerous important questions remain unanswered on the actual effectiveness of such ecological road mitigation projects. We used specially adapted time-lapse recording cameras and a custom image analysis script to monitor the amphibian usage and effectiveness of a multi-tunnel mitigation site in northern England over 4 years and used before-and-after pond survey data to evaluate the mitigation results from a population trend perspective. We monitored four amphibian species, including the European protected great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), the main target of amphibian road mitigation in the UK. Despite substantial evidence of mitigation rejection and U-turn movements inside the tunnels, overall, most amphibians entering tunnels successfully used them to move between the different parts of the site separated by the road. Road fences appeared effective for preventing amphibian road mortality and site connectivity was re-established via the wildlife passage system, with multiple new ponds across the road colonised by amphibians. Unlike frogs and toads, tunnel usage by newts was strongly autumn based, indicating that such systems are mainly suitable for supporting newt dispersal movements between breeding areas. The great crested newt population increased rapidly over the course of the monitoring period, suggesting that, together with habitat replacements and improvements, the road mitigation measures were effective at maintaining site connectivity and as a population conservation measure.

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Section: Influence Of Weathermentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Road mitigation using tunnels and fences promotes site connectivity and population expansion for a protected amphibian

Jarvis¹,

Hartup²,

Petrovan

2019

Eur J Wildl Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…More recent studies conducted in North America show greatly varying results (e.g. Allaback & Laabs, ; Pagnucco, Paszkowski & Scrimgeour, ) that also mirror the highly variable differences observed among amphibian species to other types of under‐road tunnels. Despite the partial success of some under‐road tunnels for amphibians in the Northern Hemisphere, there is very limited information on the response of frog species in Australia to any type of under‐road tunnel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Usage rates of an under-road tunnel by three Australian frog species: implications for road mitigation

et al. 2014

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Many amphibians in Europe and North America regularly use under-road tunnels during dispersal. However, such structures have not been shown to mitigate the impacts of road mortality on frog populations in Australia. We tested the behavioural response of three Australian frog species to a 12-m amphibian under-road tunnel in controlled ex situ conditions. In April and October 2012, we tested 34 striped marsh frogs Limnodynastes peronii, 54 green and golden bell frogs Litoria aurea, and 15 broad-palmed frogs Lit. latopalmata. The overall proportion of frogs entering the tunnel (tunnel usage), and entering and exiting the tunnel at the opposite end (tunnel efficiency), among the three species was 0.13 and 0.05, respectively. The proportion of usage for Lim. peronii, Lit. aurea and Lit. latopalmata was 0.21, 0.07 and 0.13, respectively. The mean time taken for an individual to enter the tunnel was 14 min 22 s. There was some evidence of directionality in the movement of Lim. peronii and Lit. aurea within the experimental arena. Tunnel usage was not likely related to air temperature, humidity or light levels inside the tunnel, but requires further investigation. Our study showed that there was low usage of the under-road tunnel compared with the relatively high usage rates of tunnels by amphibians in the Northern Hemisphere. Our results demonstrate that the effectiveness of wildlife tunnels in mitigating the impact of roads on frog species in Australia and tropical regions requires further investigation. We recommend testing these tunnels once installed under several roads near wetlands to assess how frogs respond to them during the breeding period. bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print Frog usage of an under-road tunnel A. J. Hamer et al.

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“…S1) 1 and several investigators have sought to understand the relationship between the landscape and patterns of population connectivity in this species based on genetic data (Tallmon et al 2000;Giordano et al 2007;Savage et al 2010;Goldberg and Waits 2010). These studies are important in light of conservation concern for the species in parts of its range and ongoing efforts to protect population connectivity (e.g., Pagnucco et al 2012). Nevertheless, fundamental information about the behaviour of the Long-toed Salamander in relation to the landscape is lacking and model parameterization and interpretation to date have largely been based on what is known for other species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

2015

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Understanding dispersal requires multiple lines of investigation, from the study of broad patterns of population connectivity to the identification of factors impacting movement at local scales. To determine the potential effects of different microhabitats on dispersal in the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1850), we experimentally evaluated mobility, moisture loss, and habitat choice in response to five common substrates (deciduous and coniferous leaf litter, grass, moss, and sand). Specifically, we examined differences in the efficiency with which salamanders moved across substrates when motivated to move. We then quantified moisture loss in each substrate and evaluated habitat preference. Our results point to a trade-off between substrates that are easily traversed and those that offer high protection against desiccation. Habitat choice appeared to balance these two aspects of performance, with salamanders favouring a substrate that offered both low resistance to movement and high protection against desiccation. This result was context-dependent, as preferences shifted towards wetter but less easily traversed substrates when supplemental cover objects were made available. Overall, our study highlights the potential for individuals to respond to a given substrate in ways that can both facilitate and limit dispersal and thus underscores the need to consider different aspects of individual performance and behaviour when studying population connectivity.Résumé : La compréhension de la dispersion requiert une approche à plusieurs volets, de l'étude des grands motifs de connectivité des populations à la détermination des facteurs qui influencent les déplacements à l'échelle locale. Afin de déterminer les effets potentiels de différents microhabitats sur la dispersion chez la salamandre à longs doigts (Ambystoma macrodactylum Baird, 1850), nous avons évalué expérimentalement la mobilité, la perte d'humidité et le choix de l'habitat en réaction à cinq substrats courants (litières de feuillus et de conifères, herbe, mousse et sable). Plus précisément, nous avons examiné les variations de l'efficacité avec laquelle les salamandres se déplaçaient sur différents substrats quand elles étaient motivées à le faire. Nous avons ensuite quantifié la perte d'humidité dans chaque substrat et évalué les préférences en matière d'habitat. Nos résultats semblent indiquer un compromis entre les substrats qui sont faciles à traverser et ceux qui offrent une bonne protection contre la dessiccation. Le choix de l'habitat semblait reposer sur un équilibre entre ces deux aspects de la performance, les salamandres privilégiant un substrat qui offrait tant une faible résistance au déplacement qu'une bonne protection contre la dessiccation. Ce résultat dépend du contexte, la préférence allant à des substrats plus humides, mais moins faciles à traverser quand des objets offrant un couvert additionnel étaient fournis. Globalement, l'étude fait ressortir le potentiel des individus de réagir à un substrat donné de manière aus...

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Characterizing Movement Patterns and Spatio-temporal Use of Under-road Tunnels by Long-toed Salamanders in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

Road mitigation using tunnels and fences promotes site connectivity and population expansion for a protected amphibian

Road mitigation using tunnels and fences promotes site connectivity and population expansion for a protected amphibian

Usage rates of an under-road tunnel by three Australian frog species: implications for road mitigation

Conflicting effects of microhabitats on Long-toed Salamander (Ambystomamacrodactylum) movement: implications for landscape connectivity

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