Road mortality in freshwater turtles: identifying causes of spatial patterns to optimize road planning and mitigation

摘要: Road mortality of freshwater turtles can be high enough to imperil populations near roads, thus there is a need efficiently and accurately locate regions excessive road-kill along road networks for mitigation. Weekly over 2 years, we drove 160 km highway circuit in northeastern New York State, USA recorded the location all detected three turtle species (Chelydra serpentina, Chrysemys picta, Emydoidea blandingii). We then analyzed spatial dispersion landscape features associated with locations. Road-kill was most prevalent at limited number short segments, termed ‘hotspots’. The locations hotspots, as indicated by kernel density analysis, peak extent hotspots (250 m), Ripley’s K, corresponded average lengths causeways (road segments wetlands within 100 m on both sides). Hotspots were located that greater than 200 m length characterized traffic volumes, close proximity water, forest coverage. conclude spatially aggregated short, severe hotspot predicted when wetlands, land-uses bordering roads are known. Hotspot models using these predictors sites network promising mitigation reduce maintain connectivity.