Road effects on species abundance and population trend: a case study on tawny owl

Horst, Shirley van der; Goytre, Fernando; Marques, Ana; Santos, Sara; Lourenço, Rui

doi:10.1007/s10344-019-1325-z

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Seventy‐three road‐killed owls found in Alentejo (Portugal) were collected from 2010 to 2019 during regular monitoring of road killings (Santos et al, 2013; van der Horst et al, 2019). Biometric data for all individuals were measured and included wing, tarsus, bill, mouth, weight, wingspan, body length, and ulna (data detailed in Supporting Information, Table S1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Roads can represent feeding opportunities for some diurnal raptor species because road‐killed animals or prey are abundant along road verges (Hanmer & Robinson, 2021; Meunier et al, 2000). However, for many owls (Strigiformes), roads represent a major threat, with frequent mortality caused by collision with vehicles (Gomes et al, 2009; Santos et al, 2013; van der Horst et al, 2019). Because of their large size, raptor carcasses are often easily detected along roadsides (berms and verges) and reported by citizens to authorities or wildlife rehabilitation centers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing Contamination Profiles in Livers from Road-Killed Owls

Dulsat-Masvidal,

Lourenço,

Mateo

et al. 2023

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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Raptors are recognised as valuable sentinel species for monitoring environmental contaminants owing to their foraging behaviour across terrestrial and aquatic food webs and their high trophic position. This study monitored environmental contaminants in livers from road‐killed owls to evaluate differences in the exposure patterns due to factors as species, age, and sex of individuals. Carcasses of road‐killed individuals of eagle owl (Bubo bubo), long‐eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), and barn owl (Tyto alba) were collected in Alentejo (Portugal). Eighty one organic contaminants were analyzed, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals, in‐use pesticides, and organophosphate esters flame retardants (OPEs). Overall, 21 contaminants were detected. ∑OCPs were prevalent in all species at concentrations from 3.24 to 4480 ng/g ww, followed by PFOS, the only PFASs detected (from 2.88 to 848 ng/g ww) and ∑PCBs (1.98 to 2010 ng/g ww). ∑PAHs were ubiquitous but detected at the lowest concentrations (from 7.35 to 123 ng/g ww). Differences among species were observed according to Principal Component Analysis. Eagle owl and long‐eared owl presented the highest levels of ∑OCPs, ∑PCBs, and PFOS, consistently with its higher trophic position while ∑PAHs prevailed in tawny owl, barn owl and little owl, related with their frequent use of urban areas for nesting and roadsides for hunting. Adults presented higher concentrations of ∑OCPs and ∑PCBs than juveniles, while no differences were observed for PFOS and ∑PAHs. Pharmaceuticals, in‐use pesticides and OPEs were not detected. Overall, this study shows specific contamination patterns in 5 species with similar diet but with differences in habitat preferences.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Contamination Profiles in Livers from Road-Killed Owls

Dulsat-Masvidal,

Lourenço,

Mateo

et al. 2023

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Self Cite

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“…Some animal species, such as reptiles, big mammals (Akrim et al, 2019; W. Richard J. Dean et al, 2019), owls (Borda- de-Água et al, 2014;van der Horst et al, 2019), and small insects (Andersson et al, 2017;Keilsohn et al, 2018;Muñoz et al, 2015), are more disposed to vehicle accidents due to their behavioural and biological activities (Bíl et al, 2020;Oddone Aquino & Nkomo, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife‐vehicle collisions in Moroccan Atlantic Sahara: Impact on resident species and Afro‐Palearctic birds for conservation purposes

Mansouri¹,

Dakki

Squalli³

et al. 2022

Afr J Ecol

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In this study, we described the temporal and spatial patterns of wildlife‐vehicle collisions in Dakhla‐Laayoune regions, using counts from cars for two years (2018–2021). A total of 462 roadkills were documented (monthly average of 0.075 roadkills/km), comprising 16 species, including mammals (residents), reptiles (residents), and birds (residents and migrants). Seasonal abundance and diversity of roadkills revealed a high peak during breeding and migration periods for all species. The generalised linear mixed models indicated that wildlife‐vehicle accidents have a higher probability of occurrence close to breeding and feeding sites and road sections with increased vegetation cover. Similarly, road collisions were higher close to migration routes and during breeding periods. Our study provides the first and only detailed results on wildlife road collisions in Morocco. Data gathered from this study provide valuable information for conservation measures of the most affected Moroccan species and Palearctic migrant birds which are crossing between Europe and Africa. Moreover, our data provide a new window of large‐scale comparative studies addressing the impacts of the infrastructures on biodiversity in the entire Atlantic coasts of Northwest Africa. Detailed studies on the local population dynamics of highly affected species are urgently needed to conclude whether these levels of road mortality are supportable.

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