Environmental Impact - Wildlife/Vegetation Effects

Adams, L. W. & Geis, A.D. (1980). Effects of highways on wildlife: Urban Wildlife Research Center: 152pp.

Abstract

Effects of highways on the diversity and spatial distribution of wildlife were studied in the southern Piedmont of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina; the Midwest Till plain of Illinois; the valley region of Oregon between the Cascade and Coastal Ranges; and the central portion of northern California. Sample plots were distributed in relation to interstate highways and county roads and extended perpendicularly from roadside edges to 400m from each road type. Nine bird species were positively influenced and nine species were negatively influenced by one or both road types during either the breeding or winter season. No differences were detected in the distributions of the majority of bird species with respect to roads.

Small mammal community structure and abundance were influenced by roads. Grassland species generally preferred right-of-way (ROW) habitat and many less-habitat-specific species were distributed in ROW and adjacent habitat. Evidence was obtained indicating that large roads inhibited movement of 11 of the 40 small mammal species studied. No significant difference was detected in deer distribution in relation to interstate highways, but deer use of habitat away from country roads was greater than use adjacent to that road type. Elk avoided roads. Cottontail rabbits were attracted to interstate ROWs but not to country ROWs.

Seventy-six percent of the road wildlife mortality was on interstate highways. Roads appeared to act in a density-dependent manner—species killed in greatest numbers were those attracted to roadsides (eg. meadowlark, indigo bunting, field sparrow, red-winged blackbird, deer mouse, several vole spp., and rabbits).

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