Seasonal Use of Railways by Wildlife

Popp, Jesse N.; Hamr, Josef

doi:10.3390/d10040104

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…). This tendency may combine with their attraction to linear features (Popp and Hamr ) to contribute to increased railway mortality for other ungulates after mitigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wildlife mortality on roads and railways following highway mitigation

et al. 2019

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Wildlife mortality caused by collisions with vehicles on roads is increasingly and effectively mitigated with exclusion fencing and crossing structures, but this solution potentially changes wildlife habitat use and distribution to increase the risk of mortality on adjacent, unmitigated railways. We investigated this potential side‐effect of mitigating the TransCanada Highway, which was completed in sections between 1983 and 2013, on the rate of wildlife mortality on the nearby transcontinental mainline of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Banff National Park. For each transportation class (highway and railway), we calculated collision rate as the number of collisions per year and km for two guilds (carnivores and ungulates) before and after mitigation occurred between 1981 and 2014. We constructed additional models for each transportation class and each of four species groups with adequate sample sizes: elk (Cervus canadensis), other ungulates (family Cervidae), bears (Ursus spp.), and coyotes (Canis latrans). Across guilds, mortality rates declined after mitigation, particularly on the highway (as expected) and most strongly for ungulates. For individual species groups, mortality on the railway for elk was best predicted by year and population size, without the inclusion of mitigation status on the adjacent highway. However, collision rates on the railway increased after mitigation for other ungulates (mostly deer, Odocoileus spp.) while also increasing over time. Collision rates on the railway increased over time for bears, but not in relation to highway mitigation. We found no evidence that the spatial distribution of collisions on the railway changed after highway mitigation, as might be expected from a funneling effect of crossing structures. Our results support and extend previous work demonstrating that exclusion fencing and wildlife crossing structures reduce wildlife mortalities on the highway at this location, and provide limited evidence, for other ungulates alone, that such mitigation may increase mortality on the adjacent railway. Similar analyses are warranted in other locations, particularly mountainous regions, where major transportation features often occur in close proximity.

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“…). This tendency may combine with their attraction to linear features (Popp and Hamr ) to contribute to increased railway mortality for other ungulates after mitigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…White-tailed deer are attracted to several agricultural products that are spilled from trains (Wells et al 1999). This tendency may combine with their attraction to linear features (Popp and Hamr 2018) to contribute to increased railway mortality for other ungulates after mitigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife mortality on roads and railways following highway mitigation

et al. 2019

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“…Among the direct environmental threats posed by the unsustainable development of transportation networks are environmental fragmentation, leading to the loss of genetic diversity in the area, habitat loss, and increased animal mortality [59][60][61]. Many studies on that topic concern roads and highways [62,63] instead of railways.…”

Section: Direct Threats To Wildlifementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impact Evaluation as a Key Element in Ensuring Sustainable Development of Rail Transport

Milewicz,

Mokrzan,

Szymański

2023

Sustainability

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The development of railways stands as a pivotal milestone in the history of transportation, transforming the world and revolutionising the movement of people and goods. From their humble beginnings as rudimentary track systems to the sophisticated and interconnected networks we witness today, railways have played a crucial role in fostering economic growth, promoting globalisation, and shaping modern societies. Moreover, as the world grapples with the urgent need to mitigate climate change and transition to sustainable modes of transportation, the role of railways has gained significant attention. Railways have long been recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly means of mass transit, offering lower carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and reduced congestion compared to other transportation modes. However, there are still many challenges to overcome to provide continuous sustainability in the context of environmental impacts, especially related to wildlife and habitat protection. This scientific paper aims to explore the concept of sustainability in the context of railways, providing a comprehensive analysis of their environmental influences. As a result, the authors present a complex analysis of the topic, combining different perspectives—ecological, engineering, and legislative. They present methods of reducing noise pollution—constructional and legal ways; emission pollution reduction associated with combustion engines; and innovative analysis of limiting the impact of transportation on natural habitats and forest animal populations, which is not yet sufficiently elaborated scientifically in the literature. By examining key strategies, technologies, and policy frameworks, this research sheds light on the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability within the railway industry around the world.

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