Temporal patterns and factors influencing vertebrate roadkill in China. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Yun; Yang, Yangang; Han, Yongshun; Shi, Guoqiang; Zhang, Lingli; Wang, Zhuocong; Cao, Guanghua; Zhou, Hongping; Kong, Yaping; Piao, Zhengji; Merrow, Jed
• Is Part Of: Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives. Volume 15(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Road mortality -- Road ecology -- Traffic casualties -- Wildlife vehicle collisions; Transportation -- Periodicals; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2022.100662
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2590-1982

Abstract

Highlights: This is the first long-term investigation of vertebrate roadkill in China mainland. It is estimated roadkill will reach 37, 120 ± 14, 100 individuals per year in 10 years in the Changbai Mountain area. The vertebrate roadkill rate recorded on walking and cycling surveys was 8.4 times higher than that of driving surveys. This research also provides useful information regarding seasonality of roadkill, which can help focus future roadkill studies. Abstract: There have been few studies of vertebrate roadkill in China, and the lack of long-term, large-scale, and multiple-species monitoring and data have made it difficult for transportation departments to make science-based decisions. The 13 highways in the Changbai Mountains of northeast China were selected for 13 years of monitoring. The results showed that there were a total of 13, 309 vertebrate roadkill belonging to 91 species with a roadkill rate of 6.35 ± 2.41 per 100 km per day. The vertebrate roadkill rate recorded on walking and cycling surveys was 8.4 times higher than that of driving surveys. We estimate the roadkill number of the Changbai Mountain area will reach 37, 120 ± 14, 100 by 2030. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for proposing roadkill mitigation measures, and also provide a baseline for comparison with future roadkill monitoring results in Changbai Mountain area.