Habitat Characteristics of Wildlife Crossing Hotspots in Northern New Jersey

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1 Habitat Characteristics of Wildlife Crossing Hotspots in Northern New Jersey Passaic River Institute Symposium October 10, 2014 Kelly Triece*, Natalie Sherwood, & Meiyin Wu Montclair State University, Gretchen Fowles and Brian Zarate New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

2 Wildlife Need to Travel To find food and mates, obtain vital resources in their home range

3 Habitat Fragmentation time

4 Habitat Fragmentation: Roads are Barriers

5 Wildlife Road Mortality 1 million vertebrates per day are killed on roads in the United States Population declines Safety risk for motorists

6 Wildlife Road Crossing Hotspots Spatially clustered Associated with specific land-use types wetland open water or other specific landscape patterns Crossing hotspots = Mortality hotspots

habitat linkages to ensure gene flow and the persistence of wildlife

7 NJ Habitat Connectivity Project Connecting Habitat Across NJ (CHANJ) to determine actions necessary to restore and maintain critical habitat linkages to ensure gene flow and the persistence of wildlife ordpress.com/ec ologicaldesign/ecological -prototyperesidences/

8 1) Identify wildlife crossing hotspots 2) Prioritize hotspots for mitigation 3) Evaluate habitat characteristics associated with mortality 4) Outreach education Objectives

10 Site Selection 42 Road transects selected Selection Criteria: Open space on both sides Known road mortality Proximity to protected species Proximity to water-bodies

11 Methods Each Transect Surveyed: Up to 3x per week at dawn March through June 2013

12 Road Crossing Data Collection Transect ID GPS coordinates Dates Weather Species Identification Density Dead/Alive/Injured Photo documentation

13 Habitat Characteristics Survey 30 transects 4-6 sampling points per transect

14 Habitat Characteristics Survey Parameters: Distance to Vernal Pool Distance to Stream Tree Diversity Shrub Diversity Herbaceous Diversity Leaf Litter Mass Leaf Litter Depth Percent Canopy

15 Statistical Analysis Poisson Regression analysis To model count data and contingency tables Mammals were excluded in analysis

16 Results: Species Richness Mammal Amphibian Reptile

17 Results: Road Mortality Mammal Amphibian Reptile

18 Results: Dead or Alive 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% Dead Alive 50% 40% 30% % 10% 0% Mammal Amphibian Reptile

/KM 1 Sparta, Sussex County 19 422 11.10 262.

19 Results: Priority Sites Priority Sites Location Richness Total # Observation Obs. /Visit Obs. /KM 1 Sparta, Sussex County Chatham Township Layton, Sussex County Harding, Great Swamp NWR

Results: Habitat Characteristics Variable Description Mean ± Standard Error Range Distance to nearest vernal pool (m) 655.37 ± 155.72 21.23-3386.73 Distance to nearest stream (m) 45.10 ± 13.14 0-258.

20 Results: Habitat Characteristics Variable Description Mean ± Standard Error Range Distance to nearest vernal pool (m) ± Distance to nearest stream (m) ± Median Tree Diversity Index 0.53 ± Median Shrub Diversity Index 0.17 ± Median Herb Diversity Index 0.69 ± Average leaf litter depth (cm) 0.82 ± Average leaf litter mass (g) ± % Canopy ±

21 Results: Habitat Characteristics Road mortality is positively correlated to: shrub diversity (p=0.0002) and herbaceous diversity (p<0.0001) Road mortality is negatively correlated to: distance to nearest vernal pool (p=0.003) distance to nearest stream (p=0.002)

22 Results: Habitat Characteristics Road mortality is not significantly impacted by: tree diversity leaf litter depth leaf litter mass percent canopy

23 Results: Habitat Characteristics Species richness is positively correlated with: shrub diversity (p=0.039) herbaceous diversity (p=0.0002)

24 Results: Habitat Characteristics Richness was not significantly impacted by: distance to vernal pool distance to stream tree diversity leaf litter depth leaf litter mass percent canopy

Diverse forests : Discussion: Diversity represent less disturbed habitats moderate temperature and maintain moisture add organic matter to nearby wetlands act as dispersal corridors provide niches

25 Diverse forests : Discussion: Diversity represent less disturbed habitats moderate temperature and maintain moisture add organic matter to nearby wetlands act as dispersal corridors provide niches Knutson MG, Saur JR, Olsen, DA, Mossman MJ, Hemesath LM, Lannoo MJ Effects of Landscape Composition and Wetland Abundance and Species Richness in Iowa and Wisconsin, USA. Conservation Biology. 13 (6): Fragmentation on Frog and Toad

26 Discussion: Diversity Results show that: herpetofauna road mortality and species richness are positively correlated to shrub and herbaceous diversities Higher vegetative diversity: provides a better habitat attract a more diverse herpetofauna community

27 Discussion: Distance to Water Vernal pools are: Temporary/seasonal wetlands Important breeding habitat for many amphibian species Results: Road sections closer to vernal pools and streams had high road mortality for herpetofauna

28 Discussion: Distance to Water Dominant vernal pool breeders found in this study: Spring Peeper (28.22%) Gray Treefrog (20.32%) Green Frog (20.32%) Wood Frog (8.13%) Reptile species found: Common Garter Snake Eastern Ribbon Snake

29 Habitat fragmentation Impacts wildlife through road mortality Predict road crossing hotspots based on associated habitat characteristics Shrub diversity Herbaceous diversity Distance to vernal pool/stream 4 priority sites were identified in this study Conclusion

30 Conclusion Preserve critical lands Install wildlife crossing tunnels, culverts, warning signs, etc. at identified priority sites Rebuild habitat connectivity to ensure persistence of New Jersey wildlife Wildlife Crossing Tunnels Source: aco-wildlfe.com

31 Acknowledgements Thesis advisor, Dr. Meiyin Wu Committee: Dr. Lee Lee and Dr. William Thomas Collaborators: Gretchen Fowles and Brian Zarate Funding Source: PSE&G, NJDEP, Montclair State University Dr. Hayan Su Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) Working Group New Jersey School of Conservation Wildlife Guardian Project Volunteers

Habitat Stewardship Series N E W H A M P S H I R E W I L D L I F E A C T I O N P L A N

Vernal Pools Habitat Stewardship Series N E W H A M P S H I R E W I L D L I F E A C T I O N P L A N Recognizing vernal pools Vernal pools are unique wetlands that provide critical breeding habitat for