Are less vocal rainforest mammals susceptible to impacts from traffic noise?

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Byrnes ◽  
Miriam Goosem ◽  
Stephen M. Turton
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
Barrier Effects ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Associated Variables ◽  
Noise Impacts ◽  
Road Avoidance

Context Traffic noise is believed to cause road avoidance and other barrier effects in a variety of wildlife species, and to force changes to call pitch or loudness in others; however, this has never been tested in the absence of other road impacts. Noise impacts on species that do not frequently vocalise are also poorly understood. We investigated traffic-noise impacts on the following three rainforest mammals that do not often vocalise: Hypsiprymnodon moschatus, Uromys caudimaculatus and Perameles nasuta. These species have previously been observed to exhibit varying levels of road avoidance. Aims To determine whether traffic noise affects movement and behaviour of medium-sized, ground-dwelling rainforest mammals in the absence of other road-associated variables and potential impacts. We hypothesised that noise impacts would be greatest for species previously shown to avoid roads. Noise impacts on these less vocal species compared with more vocal species is also discussed. Methods In north-eastern Queensland, Australia, mammals captured at least 500 m from any road were tracked after fitting with spool-and-line equipment. On noisy nights, traffic noise at levels similar to a busy highway was played continuously throughout the night from a line of 12 speakers mounted on trees. Speakers were silent on quiet nights. Key results Traffic noise caused no increase in avoidance of the speaker line and was not a barrier to movements across the line. Overall, movement paths on noisy nights appeared similar in pattern (tortuosity) to those of quiet nights. At a finer scale, movements of H. moschatus and P. nasuta became more tortuous later in the track, suggesting a return to normal foraging behaviour and possible habituation to the noise. Conclusions These three species with varying levels of previously recorded road avoidance, did not respond negatively to traffic noise. There was, however, a suggestion of habituation by H. moschatus and P. nasuta in response to the noise. Implications The demonstrated lack of response to traffic noise in these less vocal species means that traffic noise is unlikely to cause road avoidance or barrier effects. Instead, lack of response and possible habituation to traffic noise may increase vulnerability to road mortality.

scholarly journals Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of small antelopes : steenbok, Raphicerus campestris and suni, Neotragus moschatus : research communication

2006 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Golezardy ◽  
I.G. Horak
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Research Communication ◽  
Far North ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
North East ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Geographic Regions

During surveys on the tick burdens of various wildlife species in South Africa, nine small antelopes became available for study. Six of these were steenbok, Raphicerus campestris and three sunis, Neotragus moschatus, and their tick burdens are recorded here. The steenbok were examined in three nature reserves and harboured nine tick species. The sunis were examined in a fourth reserve and were infested with eight species. The steenbok and sunis were generally infested with the immature stages of the same tick species that infest larger animals in the same geographic regions. In addition the sunis harboured Haemaphysalis parmata, which in South Africa is present only in the eastern and north-eastern coastal and adjacent areas of KwaZulu-Natal Province. They were also infested with Rhipicephalus kochi, which in South Africa occurs only in the far north-east of the KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Provinces.

Use of fauna road-crossing structures in north-eastern New South Wales

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian F. Hayes ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
Road Kill ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Level Of Use ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
High Level

The vast network of roads around the world has had a significant effect on wildlife and ecosystems through habitat fragmentation, reduced dispersal and mortality by collision with vehicles. Road agencies worldwide now frequently install dedicated structures to facilitate the safe crossing of roads by wildlife. We conducted surveys to determine the use of dedicated wildlife overpasses and nearby underpasses at two locations on the Pacific Highway in north-eastern New South Wales. Road-kill surveys were conducted to provide some understanding of the species commonly killed and whether the rate of road-kill was lower at one location where crossing-structures were located. Use of the crossing-structures by wildlife was monitored with sand-transects. The most frequent users were macropods, bandicoots and rodents. Macropods made greater use of overpasses (n = 104 tracks) than underpasses (n = 36), whereas underpasses were used more by bandicoots (n = 87) and rodents (n = 82) than were overpasses (n = 28, n = 15, respectively). We identified 78 road-kills of 21 species on two sections of the Pacific Highway over a 7-week period. Bandicoots (n = 16) and macropods (n = 9) were the most frequently observed victims. The mortality of wildlife was lower along the highway section with the crossing-structures (0.04 road-kills km–1) than it was along the highway section without structures (0.15 road-kills km–1). The lack of replication precludes any firm conclusion that the crossing-structures reduced road mortality but the high level of use of the crossing-structures by species that were common victims of road-kill suggests an influence.

Wildlife road-kills on three major roads in north-eastern New South Wales

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan D. Taylor ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Road Kill ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Survey Technique

Although vehicle-induced mortality of wildlife is well known on roads throughout Australia, few empirical studies describe the extent of this mortality or assess the potential effects on wildlife populations. We recorded 529 roadkills of 53 vertebrate species along a 100-km circuit of three major roads during 20 weekly surveys across winter, spring and summer. This equates to 0.3 road-kills km–1 week–1 or one road-kill every 3.8 km week–1. The most frequently killed native species were the northern brown bandicoot (4 per week), the mountain brushtail possum (2 per week) and the Australian magpie (2 per week). These values are underestimates because our survey technique could not detect all road-kills and ~40% of those left on the roadside disappeared within 7�days. Detailed study of the local population of the brown bandicoot is needed to determine whether such a level of road mortality is sustainable.A logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether any of 10 road and landscape attributes were closely associated with the presence of specific groups of road-kills. Bandicoots were not associated with any measured attributes. Possums were more likely to occur along roads on mid-slopes and ridge-tops. Magpies were associated with roads on ridge-tops. Canopy-dwelling birds were more likely to be killed on 3-lane roads surrounded by dense vegetation.Road-kill surveys such as this are needed to identify species for which road mortality is unsustainable, to determine the influence on threatened species, and to identify important crossing points where road-kills are high. The frequency of road-kill of many ground-dwelling or arboreal mammal species in this study highlights the importance of impact mitigation by road authorities.

Traffic noise impacts on urban forest soundscapes in south-eastern Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Munro ◽  
Ian Williamson ◽  
Susan Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Urban Forest ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Noise Impacts ◽  
South Eastern Australia

ASSESSMENT OF TRAFFIC NOISE IMPACTS

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEPPE HUSTED RICH ◽  
OTTO ANKER NIELSEN
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Noise Impacts

Roads and wildlife: impacts, mitigation and implications for wildlife management in Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan D. Taylor ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Road Mortality ◽  
Species Barrier ◽  
Barrier Effects ◽  
Vehicle Collision ◽  
Crossing Structures ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Road Crossing

Roads can disrupt the population processes of vertebrate wildlife species through habitat fragmentation and vehicle collision. The aims of this review were to synthesise the recent literature on road impacts on wildlife, to identify gaps in our understanding of this topic and to guide future research and management in Australia. We reviewed 244 published studies from the last decade on road and vehicle impacts on wildlife conducted worldwide. A geographic bias was evident among the studies, with 51% conducted in North America, 25% in Europe, 17% in Australia and 7% across several other countries. A taxonomic bias was evident towards mammals (53%), with far fewer studies on birds (10%), amphibians (9%) and reptiles (8%), and some (20%) included multiple taxonomic groups. Although this bias is partly explained by large insurance and medical costs associated with collisions involving large mammals, it is also evident in Australia and signals that large components of biodiversity are being neglected. Despite a prevalence of studies on wildlife road mortality (34%), population impacts are poorly described, although negative impacts are implicated for many species. Barrier effects of roads were examined in 44 studies, with behavioural aversion leading to adverse genetic consequences identified for some species. The installation of road-crossing structures for wildlife has become commonplace worldwide, but has largely outpaced an understanding of any population benefits. Road underpasses appear to be an important generic mitigation tool because a wide range of taxa use them. This knowledge can guide management until further information becomes available. Global concern about the decline of amphibians should lead to a greater focus on road impacts on this group. Priorities for research in Australia include (1) genetic studies on a range of taxa to provide an understanding of life-history traits that predispose species to barrier effects from roads, (2) studies that examine whether crossing structures alleviate population impacts from roads and (3) studies that describe the behavioural response of frogs to crossing structures and that identify factors that may promote the use of suitable structures. A national strategy to mitigate the impacts of roads on wildlife populations is long overdue and must ensure that research on this topic is adequately funded.

scholarly journals The Utilization of Water Points by Wildlife Species in Nyae Nyae Conservancy, Namibia

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Melanie Rispel ◽  
Selma Lendelvo
Keyword(s):  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
The North ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
North Eastern Part ◽  
Semi Arid

Namibia is a semi-arid country and underground water sources have proven to be reliable water sources for drought-prone countries. Underground water has the ability to sustain conservation activities as long as water infrastructure is in place and maintained. Despite the different water requirements for the wildlife species, water remains an essential component of wildlife management in Namibia. Therefore, this study aims at understanding utilization of water points by various wildlife species in the Nyae Nyae conservancies, which is located in the north-eastern part of Namibia. This study used monitoring data from wildlife counts that are conducted by the Conservancy annually at water points coupled with key-informant interviews with local conservancy members and leaders as well as some stakeholders. The study shows that the Conservancy had a diverse number of wildlife species that were predominantly ungulates (70%). These species were detected at 29 water points distributed across the Conservancy. Most of the water points in the conservancy were artificial points with water drawn from the underground water sources, while a few of the water points were pans (17%). Water resources are very important resources for conservation, not only in terms of being used by wildlife but also in terms of being used to provide an indication of species diversity in the conservation.

Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales in relation to habitat variables

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 639 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt ◽  
R. I. Forrester
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
General Preference ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
Habitat Variables

We examined the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in eucalypt forests in relation to habitat variables within an area of c. 24 000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales. Habitat variables are defined as vegetative variables that may be altered or created by humans or natural disturbances and used for the management and/or conservation of fauna. Statistical models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in relation to the habitat variables are presented. Generally, the ground-dwelling mammals in the region were more diverse and in greater abundance, and the forest more complex, than in south-eastern New South Wales. The models reflect a general preference of the ground-dwelling fauna for forests that were least disturbed. However, some species were more tolerant of disturbance than others. Recent developments in remote sensing have allowed the mosaic of habitats for ground-dwelling mammals to be mapped over large areas of the landscape. Such maps and the models presented here are discussed with respect to the management of wildlife species. The reduced disturbance during silvicultural practices and the lower abundance of foxes are discussed in relation to the greater diversity and abundance of the ground-dwelling mammals in the region than in south-eastern New South Wales.

Effects of tropical rainforest roads on small mammals: inhibition of crossing movements

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Goosem
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
The Road ◽  
Barrier Effects ◽  
Linear Barrier ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Wide Road

Along a narrow, unsealed road through rainforest in north-eastern Queensland, movements of small mammals were examined to determine whether the road would inhibit road crossings, thereby causing linear barrier effects. Crossings of a 12- or 20-m-wide road clearing by Melomys cervinipes were severely inhibited, crossing inhibition of Rattus sp. was less severe, while crossings by Uromys caudimaculatus were unaffected. This differential effect was attributed to species differences in size, mobility and behaviour. Baiting on only one side of the road increased crossing rates for all species. During the breeding season, crossings of 20-m clearings by Rattus sp. were almost completely inhibited and were significantly fewer than crossings of 12-m clearings. Clearing width had little effect on crossing rate outside the breeding season. Seasonal dispersal of juvenile and breeding animals appeared to explain this discrepancy in clearing-width effects. Rattus sp. were significantly less likely to cross a road where there was no vegetative cover at the entrance to a road culvert than where there was cover at both culvert entrances. Linear barrier effects for small mammals may be mitigated by narrower road-clearing widths, by replanting of grassy road verges resulting in increased cover at culvert entrances and canopy closure above the road, and by providing more faunal underpasses.

scholarly journals Inventory of Butterflies and Its Role to Promote Ecotourism in Northern Sindhupalchok District of Central Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Bhaiya Khanal
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Supplementary Information ◽  
Elevation Gradients ◽  
High Interest ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Central Nepal ◽  
Mountain Habitats ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Northern Side ◽  
North Western

Sindhupalchok is one of the largest districts of central Nepal with area occupancy of about 2542 km². The northern side of this district exhibits complex physical feature where this study was carried out within the elevation of 850m to 4300m. The changing elevation gradients along mountain habitats act to control the distribution of butterflies at its ascending range. This study made on different periods in 2009 and 2012 brought a list of 114 species of butterflies from three different destinations of the northern side that included areas like Melamchi, Timbu (central-northern), Helambu (northern) Nakote (north-western) Panch Pokhari and adjoining region (north-eastern). The diversity of butterflies declined gradually above 3500m towards Panch Pokhari whereas species richness was noticed high at 900-2700 m from Melamchi to Helambu route including Nakote, Shermathan and Tarkyghyang. Ecotourism promotional activity can also be linked to the butterfly watch that includes rare and attractive species carrying high interest to the visiting tourists to this region. These tourists intend to watch, document and photograph these butterflies besides birds and other wildlife species. The supplementary information on these insects including other faunal components can be helpful to provide impressive knowledge to the visiting tourists to this part.

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