QUANTIFYING WILDLIFE ROAD MORTALITY IN SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

摘要: Roadkill is undoubtedly the greatest human-caused source of direct mortality to vertebrate animals in many parks and reserves, yet its overall impact remains poorly documented. To begin quantify effects roadways on wildlife Saguaro National Park, Arizona, park staff initiated regular roadkill surveys January 1994. These have documented 2,030 road mortalities during a three year period, enabled managers identify specific areas taxa concern. Nevertheless, number individual observed are clearly only small fraction killed roads adjacent Park. calculate more accurate estimate total annual mortality, authors conducted studies determine effect stochastic, short-term weather events; length time carcasses persist roadways; observer error associated with their studies. Preliminary results these provide what consider very conservative 7,155 vertebrates Park through- boundary-roads annually. This paper presents authors' date discusses implications towards management protected near increasing external development.