Habitat and corridor function of rights-of-way

Transcription

1 Habitat and corridor function of rights-of-way Marcel Huijser Tony Clevenger Note: Some illustrations have been removed form this web version

2 Effects of Roads and Traffic Habitat loss Barrier Reduced habitat quality Increased mortality Benefits?

3 Review Habitat and Corridor Function Huijser, M.P. & A.P. Clevenger Habitat and corridor function of rights-of-way. Pages in: J. Davenport & J.L. Davenport (Eds.): The ecology of transportation: managing mobility for the environment. Series: Environmental Pollution, Vol. 10. Springer, The Netherlands.

4 Define Rights-Of Of-Way Edge road surface until Edge of area not owned/ managed by transportation agency R-O- fence Change in land use

5 % of Land Area Netherlands: % (nature areas only 3.9%) England: 0.9% USA: 0.5% Victoria, Australia: 2.5% (80% of area National Parks)

6 Characteristics Rights-of of-ways Width varies greatly (a few m up to 1,609 m) Parallel to roads Many edge effects (disturbance - habitat quality) Extensive network Huge Potential Enhance habitat availability Enhance connectivity between habitat patches

7 Disturbance in Rights-Of Of-Way Construction activities Alien soil Grading Seeding of native/non-native plant species Trampling Dust Air/water pollutants Mowing practices Herbicides Sound Light Human presence Marcel Huijser

8 Habitat Function Partial habitat Individual animals use r-o-w as part of their home range Individual animals may not be able to survive in r-o-w alone Habitat R-o-w alone may not support viable populations Complete habitat Individual plants or animals live in right-of-way Individual plants or animals do not necessarily depend on other areas R-o-w may support viable populations

9 Partial habitat Butterflies: nectar (Ouin et al. 2004) Diurnal raptors, owls: small mammals (Fajardo et al. 1998) Corvids,, raptors, mammals: roadkill (Wells et al. 1999; Gunther et al. 2000) Bears, deer, elk, rodents: railroad grain spills (Wells et al. 1999) Deer, bighorn sheep: : food, salt (Carbaugh Carbaugh et al. 1975; Huijser & Paul 2008) Birds, mammals: breeding (Warner 1992; Camp & Best 1993; Nechay 2000) Caribou: relief from flies (Noel et al. 1998)

10 Forage and White-tailed tailed Deer

11 Road salt and Bighorn Sheep, Hwy 93S, Kootenay National Park, Canada Huijser & Paul 2008

12 Road Salt and Bighorn Sheep, Hwy 200, Thompson Falls, Montana Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser

13 Complete Habitat Grassland species (Sýkora et al., 1993; Tikka et al. 2000) Salt tolerant/disturbance tolerant species Remnants of native forests (Bennett 2003; Spooner et al. 2004) Endangered plant species (Godt et al. 1997; van Rossum et al. 2004) Invertebrates, incl. ants (Samways et al. 1997) Mammals, marsupials (van der Reest 1992; Downes et al. 1997)

14 Roadsalt Sea pink (Armeria maritima)

15 Corridor Function 1. Home Range movements Individual animals move in right-of-way as part of their movements within their home range Corridor Spread Plant or animal species may gradually spread in r-o-w over relatively short distances (e.g. adjacent patch or home range) (multiple generations) 3. Dispersal Individual plants or animals may disperse in r-o-w over relatively long distances (e.g. skip suitable patches, travel many times the diameter of home range)

16 Home Range Movements Butterflies (Ries & Debinski 2001) Marsupials (Bennett 1990; van der Ree & Bennett 2003) Hedgehogs (Huijser et al. 2000) Canada lynx (Parker 1981; Koehler & Brittell 1990)

17 Home Range: hedgehogs Home Landscape Range: elements: hedgehogs orientation -42 hedgerow forest s edge grass verge railroad road Marcel Huijser Effect (in %) on no. of traffic victims Huijser et al. 2000

18 Home Range: hedgehogs Modify the landscape Modify landscape, combined combined with wildlife passages with safe crossing opportunities arable land wildlife passage forest Huijser et al. 2000

19 Home range: Squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)

20 Spread Non-native native plants (Wilcox 1989; Parendes & Jones 2000; Gelbard & Belnap 2003) CA poppy Cane toads (Seabrook & Dettman 1996) Meadow vole (Getz et al. 1978) Black rat (Delgado et al. 2001)

21 Spread: Disturbance zone California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

22 Spread: Meadow vole (Microtus( pennsylvanicus) Spread along grassland right-of of-ways, especially interstates

23 Dispersal Non-native native and salt tolerant plant species (Scott & Davison 1985; Brunton 1989; Ernst 1998) Carabid beetles, moths (Vermeulen 1994; Brunzell et al. 2004) Hedgehogs (Doncaster et al. 2001) Mammals (Bennett 1990; Suckling 1984)

24 Dispersal Carabid beetles

25 Dispersal: mammals

26 Conservation Value High Low Last remaining (semi)-natural habitat Disturbance zone Important for conservation Important for invasive species

27 Factors Affecting Quality R-O-WR Traffic volume Width r-o-w Mowing, herbicides Soil disturbance, burning Vegetation structure and surrounding landscape

28 (Potential) Problems Population sink (e.g. FL scrub jay, barn owl) Human safety Invasive species (e.g. knapweed) Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser

29 Opportunities Habitat and corridor for native species Carbon storage (except for clear zone) Extensive network, eliminate weak links (underpasses, overpasses) Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser Marcel Huijser

30 How to get the Book Chapter? 1. go online to Springer