MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE HIGHWAY MORTALITY OF TURTLES AND OTHER HERPETOFAUNA AT A NORTH FLORIDA LAKE

摘要: Roads built through or near wetlands cause significant mortality of reptiles and amphibians create barriers to migration dispersal. I investigated the number times turtles other herpetofauna attempted cross a 4-lane highway at Lake Jackson, Florida, USA, during period severe drought (Feb–Apr 2000). Levels road were so high that designed installed temporary drift fence system work with an existing drainage culvert for next 2.5 years evaluated its effectiveness reducing facilitating migration. monitored roads fences several per day 44 months, both non-drought conditions. A total 10,229 species found either killed alive behind fences: 8,842 turtles, 838 frogs, 363 snakes, 152 lizards, 32 alligators, 2 salamanders. Drift combined intensive monitoring greatly reduced turtle kills facilitated use under-highway culvert. Along 0.7-km section highway, before installation (11.9/km/day) was significantly greater than post-fence (0.09/km/day) only 84 8,475 climbed penetrated fences. Pre-fence data provided strong evidence cannot successfully all 4 lanes U.S. Highway 27, as 95% 343 they first entered adjacent shoulder remaining 5% in two traffic lanes. According probability model, likelihood crossing 27 decreased from 32% 1977 2% 2001 due 162% increase volume. Therefore, least 98% diverted by probably would have been if not place. The results this study represent highest road-crossing rate ever published (1,263/km/year). Because demographic life history constraints, populations may incur irreversible declines areas where is high, especially when mass migrations are triggered periods drought.