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The article "Observations of Turkey Vulture Mortality along a Commuter Railway in New York, USA" published in the Journal of Raptor Research discusses the impact of railroads on wildlife, specifically focusing on Turkey Vultures. The study found that Turkey Vultures are at risk of fatal collisions with trains while scavenging for carrion along the railway. The research suggests that railroads may function as "ecological traps" for vultures, leading to mortality. Recommendations are made to reduce Turkey Vulture mortality by addressing the availability of train-killed wildlife, particularly white-tailed deer, along the railway. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: The roadkill incidence of Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) has become a nationwide concern in recent years because of its contribution to biodiversity loss. Various environmental risk factors for the occurrence of roadkill events were found. However, there is a gap in observational studies focusing on the effects of deforestation and predator species richness on the roadkill, despite their plausible mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the associations between water deer roadkill events and environmental risk factors in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed 1,986 roadkill events of water deer recorded on highway routes managed by the Korean National Transport Center from 2019 to 2021 as an outcome variable, and the values of environmental factors collated as explanatory variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate these associations. Results: This study highlighted two main explanatory variables: predator species richness and deforestation, and the results indicate that higher deforestation level was associated with higher odds of the roadkill incidence, with an odds ratio of 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.25] from the ordinary model and 1.11 (95% credible interval = 1.03–1.21) from the spatial regression model. Conversely, predator species richness is negatively associated with the roadkill events, with an odds ratio of 0.75 (95% confidence interval = 0.69 to 0.80) from the ordinary regression model and 0.76 (95% credible interval = 0.66–0.86) from the spatial regression model. Conclusion: These findings suggest that conservational effort, such as preventing wildlife diversity and mitigating deforestation could reduce the incidence of water deer roadkill events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: From the initial outbreak of Formosan ferret-badger (FFB) rabies in Taiwain in 2013 until December 2022, the epizootic had remained continuously limited on the south side of the Daan River, which was considered as a natural barrier preventing the reservoir FFBs from crossing over. However, in 2023, cases of FFB rabies appeared in Miaoli County, located north of the Daan River. Several factors may have contributed to this crossing, including (1) decreased rainfall in the Daan River catchment in recent years, reducing water sources in FFB habitats and forcing FFBs to seek forage outside their mountain habitats; (2) the construction of the Shilin Weir in the upstream of Daan River, possibly leading to drought during the dry seasons, allowing reservoir FFBs to cross from the south side into Miaoli County; and (3) thehe unusually high incidence of FFB roadkills s during the 2023 rainy season, indicating an overall increase in FFB activity. These pieces of evidence supported the speculation that FFBs crossed the Daan River, introducing FFB rabies into Miaoli County. The first detection of Formosan ferret-badger (FFB) rabies on the main island of Taiwan occurred in July 2013. National surveillance reports indicated that prior to 2023, rabies outbreaks were limited to the southern region of the Daan River, which was considered a natural barrier preventing the spread northwards. However, in 2023, four new cases of rabid FFBs emerged in Miaoli County, located north of the Daan River, suggesting that the epizootic had crossed the river. Several factors may have contributed to the ability of reservoir FFBs to cross over the Daan River. Firstly, there was a decrease in rainfall in the upstream area of the Daan River in 2023. Secondly, the construction of the Shilin Weir by the Taiwan Power Company in the upstream area of the Daan River aimed to prioritize water diversion for hydropower generation while ensuring domestic water supply for Miaoli County and Taichung City. Lastly, there was an unusual increase in the number of roadkill FFBs during the rainy season of 2023. The decreased rainfall in FFB habitats in the mountains and the near-dry condition of the upstream Daan River caused by the Shilin Weir in 2023, allowing FFBs to easily cross the Daan River into Miaoli County. The evidence of unusually increased FFB activity in 2023 supports the speculation that FFBs crossed the Daan River, introducing FFB rabies into Miaoli County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied species composition and monthly patterns of roadkill of large and medium sized mammal species along 778 km of Slovenian highways in the period 2018–2020. Apart from providing the first comprehensive data on monthly patterns of roadkill as a proxy of wildlife-vehicle collisions at Slovenian highways and identifying linear collision hotspots (using KDE + methodology), we also tested the impact of acoustic deterrents installed at highway interchanges in late 2018 on WVC frequency. In the three-year period, we registered in total 2046 roadkill cases, with red fox (Vulpes vulpes), (N = 790; 39.6%), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (N = 592; 28.9%), and European badger (Meles meles), (N = 423; 20.7%) being the most exposed species. Temporal collision patterns with evident species-specific monthly peaks reflect the behaviour and activity of these three species. We identified 268 KDE + hotspots, accounting for 48.5% of all roadkill and covering 9.3% (72.6 km) of the highway network. Recognising these hotspots is crucial for implementing mitigation measures to reduce WVC on Slovenian highways. However, our findings indicate no decrease in roadkill after installation of acoustic deterrents (2019–2020), therefore additional effort is needed to find adequate and effective approach for reducing roadkill and hence increasing road safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, number of private cars is increasing rapidly. Traffic congestion becomes a serious problem in urban region. If traffic congestion can be predicted before it happens, it will be helpful for improving traffic condition. So many traffic congestion prediction methods have been proposed. Almost all these methods are based on traffic flow prediction algorithm. In these methods, historical traffic flow data is used while performing prediction. Obviously, information of sudden accidents like traffic accidents, road damage and bad weather that happened recently may be not contained in historical traffic flow data. But performance of traffic flow prediction algorithms will be affected by these factors. In this situation, performance of traffic congestion prediction method based on traffic flow prediction result will be affected as well. To solve the problem, a new traffic congestion prediction method based on trajectory mining algorithm is proposed in this paper. In this method, traffic controllers can set a threshold for each road according to the current situation of the road. The threshold represents the vehicle number that can be carried by the corresponding road in a short period. Besides, for each road, the proposed method tries to count the number of vehicles that will pass through the specific road at next time step by predicting next location for all the running vehicles based on their trajectories. If the vehicle number of a road surpasses the threshold of this road, it will be predicted as congested road. Otherwise, it will be predicted as non-congested road. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global dependency on railways as an economical and environmentally-friendly option for transportation is steadily increasing. Despite their numerous benefits, railways and train traffic can have negative impacts on wildlife, particularly through the risk of mortality due to collisions with trains, entrapment in rails, or electrocution at overhead powerlines. In most cases, these impacts are under-investigated, thus remain unmitigated. In this study, we describe patterns of rail-mortality of the local fauna in Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa. In addition to exploring which species are most vulnerable to rail-mortality, we explore the role that seasonal variation, the daily activity patterns of the species, and the surrounding habitat type have on the occurrence of wildlife-rail-mortality. From 25 May 2020-29 March 2021, we conducted carcass surveys over three 5 km railway segments, corresponding to the three dominant habitat types in the nature reserve: open grassland, open woodland and mixed shrubland. Each 5 km segment of railway was surveyed during the wet season (November-March) and the dry season (May-September) to account for seasonal variation. We recorded 99 rail-kills, of which 29% were mammals, 26% were birds, 26% were reptiles, and 18% were amphibians. Mammal carcasses were found most frequently in the dry season, while amphibians were only detected in the wet season. Amphibian carcasses were all nocturnal species, while diurnal species dominated the bird carcasses found. Finally, most rail-kill carcasses were found in mixed shrublands, while open woodlands had the lowest frequency of rail-kill. The detrimental impacts of railway-mortality on wildlife may be more pronounced in areas of high conservation value, such as nature reserves, and it is essential to study and mitigate these impacts, in order to foster successful coexistence of wildlife and humans in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Studying the microbial communities within the gastrointestinal tract of vertebrate species can provide insights into biodiversity, disease ecology, and conservation. Currently, we have very limited understanding of the composition of endogenous microbiota in wildlife, particularly in high biodiversity tropical areas. Knowledge is limited by the logistical and ethical challenges of obtaining samples for free-living animals. Roadkill carcasses offer a largely untapped source for biological material, including endogenous gut microbiota. These animals that have died on roads due to collisions with vehicles are suitable for accessible, opportunistic sampling. Here, we used metabarcoding for the V3—V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene in gut samples of nine roadkill samples collected from a road in Ecuador representing two vertebrate species: the speckled worm lizard (Amphisbaena bassleri) and the smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani). We successfully identify microbial phyla in both samples including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria for A. bassleri, and Firmicutes and Actinobacteria for C. ani. Our study provides the first description of the gut microbiota for these two vertebrates, and demonstrates the feasibility of studying endogenous microbial communities from roadkill material that can be opportunistically collected and preserved in biobanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the diet of the Jaguarundi are scarce; it feeds on small mammals, birds, and, to a lesser extent, fruits, reptiles, arthropods, and fish. We report eight food items for the species based on a review of the stomach contents of a female roadkill. We found the records of the snake Drymobius margaritiferus, the lizard Sceloporus sp., the rodent Sigmodon toltecus (two individuals), Passeriformes birds (three), and another snake belonging to Colubridae. A review of 11 other studies of jaguarundi food habits in Mexico and Brazil documents 120 food items, 59% of which are mammals, and most items reflect the diurnal behavior of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lynx rufus (Bobcat) and Lontra canadensis (River Otter) experienced abundance increases and range expansions across the midwestern US after effective management. In response, multiple states allowed legal harvest of both species. In Illinois, Bobcats and River Otters were listed as furbearing game species in 2016 and 2012, respectively; however, little research into how harvest may be affecting these species has been conducted. We used age-at-death data and life-table analyses to determine growth rates (r) and other demographic metrics pre- and post-harvest implementation for both species. We constructed pre-harvest life tables using data from 141 Bobcats (age 0–13 yr) and 165 River Otters (0–12 yr) collected from opportunistic roadkills between 1996 and 2016. We constructed post-harvest life tables using data from 126 Bobcats (age 0–9 yr) and 179 River Otters (age 0–9 yr) collected from roadkills and harvested individuals between 2018 and 2023. Bobcat r was 0.28 in the pre-harvest stage-based life table and 0.08 post-harvest. River Otter r was 0.66 in the pre-harvest stage-based life table and -0.09 post-harvest. After harvest implementation, River Otter population growth declined more than Bobcats. While limited by sample size and sex determination uncertainty, our results corroborate patterns observed in other furbearer populations after harvest implementation. Future statewide abundance research of Bobcats and River Otters may benefit from policies encouraging more hunters and trappers to submit samples and the creation of reliable systems to determine sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife‐vehicle collisions have significant consequences for both humans and animals, including injuries, deaths, and vehicle damage. Therefore, analysis of accident data is important for planning countermeasures and appropriate wildlife management. In this research field, roadkill incidents have been extensively studied in many taxa, while railway accidents have received less attention despite their obvious impact on wildlife. Here we applied a Bayesian state‐space model to 31 years of collision data, both on railways and on roads, collected by the Ministry of the Environment in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan, to reveal the spatiotemporal dynamics of accidents for white‐tailed eagles, Steller's sea eagles, and red‐crowned cranes, for which over hundred accidents were reported in the data. Our analysis suggested that the mean annual number of individuals collected per collision site across Hokkaido increased 47,377‐fold in the white‐tailed eagle, 40,277‐fold in the Steller's sea eagle, and 50,584‐fold in the red‐crowned crane between 1991 and 2021. There have been concerns about the impact of traffic accidents on the population dynamics of these endangered birds, but no formal analyses have been conducted. Our analysis showed numerically that the negative impact has been increasing annually. These results suggest that long‐term data accumulation over large spatial scales allows us to understand the dynamics of accidents and predict potential factors underlying collision risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University Humanity Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Zoologica Lilloana is the property of Fundacion Miguel Lillo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban roads are known to affect wildlife fauna but most assessments of the impacts of roads have been done in cities of the developed world with comparable studies still lacking from sprawling cities of the developing countries. This gap precludes the ability of the city management authorities in designing the appropriate mitigation and conservation measures especially during this era where the road networks in African cities is expanding steadily. We surveyed 48 km of roads transcending an urban-rural gradient in Morogoro city, Tanzania to understand the patterns of road kills, taxonomic composition and used the Generalized linear modeling to determine the ecological and environmental factors mostly influencing the road kill abundances. We also assessed the conservation status of the road kills to propose measures to improve biodiversity conservation in this urban landscape bordering a global biodiversity hotspot. We found 929 killed animals belonging to 62 families and 23 orders and 5 taxa (classes) with the majority kills being insects. There was a significant difference on road kill abundance between taxa but no significant difference in kill abundance across the urban-rural gradient. Furthermore, we found that designated road speed limit was significantly positively associated with increased road kills with the insect taxon occurring most abundant in the kill. Additionally, we found three species involved in the animal-vehicle collision threatened with extinction and over 50% of the recorded road kills lacking information on their conservation status on the red list at all. These data may be useful in improving the strategies to reducing the animal-vehicle collisions and to inform the potential biodiversity monitoring in the study area and elsewhere in Africa's cities faced with similar urbanization challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study investigates the genetic variability of Hydatigera taeniaeformis in black rats (Rattus rattus), a common tapeworm that infects cats and rodents worldwide. Despite its widespread presence and zoonotic potential, little is known about the genetic diversity of this parasite in the Americas. Methods: We conducted DNA barcoding analysis using mitochondrial cox 1 gene sequences using samples collected from 171 invasive wild black rats, captured in the temperate rainforest of Southern Chile. We also included two adult parasites isolated from road killed Kodkods (Leopardus guigna), a small felid species native to the Americas. Results: Our findings revealed only two haplotypes, suggesting low genetic variability in a parasite that arrived in the Americas with the Spanish colonization. Discussion: These haplotypes are more closely related to parasite populations from Peru, Africa, Australia, and Europe, suggesting an origin linked to the Spanish colonization, possibly from North Africa via the Canary Islands. The study also analyzed infection rates, parasite size, and their correlation with host body size, age, and weight, revealing significant patterns. These results provide new insights into the biogeography and genetic diversity of H. taeniaeformis in a new geographical area, enhancing our understanding of its evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extensively reviewed scientific literature and extracted a large dataset with roadkill events for reptile species. We examined 300 articles from 33 European countries, gathering 1688 records of reptiles killed by vehicle traffic. A total of 125 taxa were found documented as roadkill (100 native and 25 exotic species). We calculated each species' occurrence frequency within the database (henceforth 'relative roadkill frequency'). The relative roadkill of species was strongly and significantly correlated when comparing the whole dataset and the subset of systematic studies. We modelled the inter‐specific variation in relative roadkill frequency across the European reptilian phylogeny concerning species traits, evolutionary uniqueness, and distribution range using a phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) model. Overall, reptile casualties are more pronounced for more closely related species. However, the relative roadkill frequency was unrelated to the level of evolutionary distinctiveness of European reptiles. Additionally, relative roadkill frequency was not correlated to the distribution range but was positively correlated with the species' body mass. The reptiles more frequently cited as road casualties were overall relatively large species: Montpellier snake Malpolon monspessulanus, European grass snake Natrix natrix, and Caspian whipsnake Dolichophis caspius. Additionally, more active species during the crepuscular hours were less affected by roadkill. From a conservation point of view, our results suggest that roadkill frequency is not more significant for evolutionary, more unique reptiles than for other species in Europe, while at the same time, widely distributed species are not the main target of roadkill events. Then, the main causes of roadkill in reptiles must be associated with other factors, such as behavioural traits or density of populations, rather than simply the size of their distribution range. Keywords: evolutionary uniqueness, phylogenetic signal, reptile species, roadkill incidence, wildlife conservation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike most canids, versatile and capable of navigating vast landscapes, endangered Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) are endemic to an archipelago of Afroalpine islands. As a habitat specialist, the Ethiopian wolf is ill‐equipped to move across a highly transformed and densely populated agriculture matrix. Hard borders imposed by expanding subsistence agriculture lock Ethiopian wolves into further isolation, with few opportunities for dispersal and recolonisation. We report and evaluate empirical information from long‐term monitoring across the species' range to understand processes of habitat loss, recolonisation and extinction in recent and historical times, and to assess what conservation measures and strategies would ensure their persistence. Ethiopian wolves occurred in six isolated populations, totalling 454 wolves (population sizes ranged between 281 and 24) occupying 2700 km2 of Afroalpine habitat. We describe three population extinctions and three local extinctions within fragmented populations, and present evidence of factors accelerating the extinction process, such as disease (rabies and canine distemper virus), persecution, road kills and poisoning. Of all the suitable habitat available to wolves, 86% was included within nine protected areas, including three new Community Conservation Areas and two national park extensions in the past 10 years. As all Ethiopian wolf populations are small and vulnerable to stochastic events and environmental perturbation, conservation efforts to ensure the long‐term survival of the species need to integrate: 1) support for protected areas to halt agriculture encroachment and to regulate sustainable uses of natural resources; 2) efforts to minimise all causes of mortality, including but not limited to disease; and 3) conservation translocations to overcome fundamental barriers to dispersal in the highlands of Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, road fatalities affect wildlife populations and ecosystems, leading to ecological imbalances, economic losses, and safety hazards for both animals and humans. However, the emotional toll on humans is less well understood. This research explores tourists' responses to roadkill, using emotional geography as the overarching framework, and focusing on the island state of Tasmania in Australia. Tasmania is known for its diverse and abundant native wildlife, as well as the unfortunate distinction of having Australia's highest rate of wildlife fatalities caused by vehicle collisions, commonly referred to as roadkill. A mixed‐method questionnaire asked respondents to share emotions, and we then considered their relationships to socio‐demographic attributes. Around 97% of respondents encountered roadkill during their stays, and 63% encountered live animals on or near the road. Tourists identified sadness as the most felt emotion when confronted with the consequences of wildlife–vehicle collisions. Anger and disgust were also experienced, primarily because of the unpleasant sight of roadkill and the realisation that animals suffered. Women reported being more negatively affected than men. Tourists who had visited to see wildlife were more affected than those who had not. Analysis leads to the conclusion that unplanned, sporadic, unexpected, and confronting encounters with dead animals detract from the tourism experience for most, especially encounters with wildlife was anticipated as a positive experience on tour. Such findings have wider implications for those working in the tourism industry in mainland Australia, Canada, and South Africa, where roadkill is also problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have analysed the different causes of admissions of stone martens (Martes foina), genets (Genetta genetta) and pine martens (Martes martes) in two rehabilitation centres in Castilla y León (Spain) during 32 years (1991–2022). The results indicate that the most important factor for stone martens was road kills with 227 martens (53.4 %) followed by electrocutions with 90 martens (21.2 %). From genets, 94 of them (68.6 %) were due to roadkill and 7 (5.1 %) were due to electrocution. The most important cause of admission for pine martens was road kills with 22 (88 %) and 1 (4 %) due to electrocution. Possible explanations for the observed high mortality of stone martens in electric pylons are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the crucial role of multilateral development banks in addressing displacement due to disasters, especially in Asia and the Pacific. It emphasizes the importance of identifying displacement as a priority in development in order to receive funding. Banks can support mitigation, climate adaptation, and infrastructure reconstruction to reduce the risk of future displacements. Additionally, financing initiatives for long-term solutions are mentioned, as well as the need for accurate data to effectively address internal displacement. [Extracted from the article]

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an important microsporidian protozoa that causes intestinal disorders in humans. We collected 191 fecal samples from roadkill deer carcasses, among which 13 (6.8%) showed positive reaction for E. bieneusi by polymerase chain reaction assay. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 6 distinct genotypes, 1 of which was novel. All genotypes belonged to Group 1, which has low host specificity, indicating possible transmission through sylvatic cycle. E. bieneusi infection was predominant in female deer (P<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses archaeological findings in East Anglia, focusing on various sites in Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Discoveries include Roman kilns, roads, boundaries, enclosures, and hoards dating back to the Iron Age and Roman periods. The research reveals insights into livestock movement, pottery production, settlement patterns, and industrial activities in the region. The findings shed light on the historical landscape and cultural practices of the area, highlighting the continuity and evolution of human activities over time. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Angiostrongylus vasorum, commonly known as the "French heartworm," is a nematode belonging to the Metastrongyloidea superfamily. This parasite was first identified in Toulouse, France in 1853 infecting the pulmonary arteries and the right side of the heart of a Pointer dog. Angiostrongylosis is an important infection due its severe clinical signs and potential for causing high morbidity and mortality in domestic dogs. This nematode has not been studied in Algeria. The aim of this study was investigate the presence of lungworms among different mammal species in a number of Algerian regions. Methods: Between February 2022 and September 2023, 47 road-killed animals were collected from six administrative units (departments) in Algeria. All carcasses underwent a full parasitological necropsy, and lung tissues were preserved in 10% buffered formalin and concentrated ethanol for further study. All collected samples were subjected to histological and PCR (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene) analyses for lungworm identification. Results: Histological examination revealed the presence of nematode eggs and larvae in the alveolar space and chronic obstructive vascular changes were detected in a single golden African wolf (Canis lupaster) collected from the department of Constantine. First-stage larvae were collected and morphologically identified as Angiostrongylus spp. The molecular identification confirmed the presence of A. vasorum. All other animals tested were negative for lungworms. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. vasorum infection in an African golden wolf (Canis lupaster). We report a new host association, highlighting the importance of further studies to update the geographical distribution of A. vasorum and its epidemiology across Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roadkill, the result of collisions between vehicles and wildlife, is becoming one of the most important conservation issues. This is especially evident in regions such as the Cerrado savannas which are under strong land use conversion, forcing animals to move more through the landscape and thus increasing exposure to roadkill. Herein, we assess the temporal and spatial patterns of roadkill of the striped hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus semistriatus) as well as its interaction with surrounding land use in the Brazilian Cerrado. To do so, we sampled BR-050, a nationally-important highway, for roadkilled C. semistriatus between 2015 and 2020 and used location and date to identify temporal and spatial patterns of roadkill. Furthermore, we assessed whether different land uses affected wildlife-vehicle collisions using a random forest model. We recorded 672 roadkilled individuals of C. semistriatus, and detected both monthly and yearly temporal hotspots as well as spatial hotspots. These hotspots were significantly surrounded by soy, which along with savannas and crops were the most impactful land uses. Since conservation practitioners need to know when and where there are higher risks of wildlife-vehicle collision, our results are essential for the conservation of C. semistriatus in the Cerrado by incorporating land use into roadkill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roads can impact population abundance due to mortality from collisions with vehicles, habitat degradation and loss of connectivity. Some species, however, can be unaffected or even positively affected by roads and roadside environments. Despite this, there is scarce information on population‐level responses to roads. To fill this knowledge gap, we sampled medium and large mammals with camera traps near two paved roads with low and high traffic volumes in agricultural landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado. We used Royle‐Nichols' occupancy models to investigate the effects of road proximity on the local abundance of 12 mammal species with varying susceptibility to roadkill. We found that road proximity affected only three species, all of which had high roadkill rates. While two of these species exhibited lower abundance near roads, the third showed the opposite response. For most species, irrespective of their roadkill rates, variations in local abundance were strongly correlated with habitat quality and connectivity. Species' life‐history traits, individual behaviour and the impact of roads and traffic on populations over time may explain these idiosyncratic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest roads have been recognized as one of the significant contributors to soil erosion processes in forested areas. The construction and maintenance of forest roads can cause severe environmental impacts, including soil erosion, sedimentation, and degradation of aquatic ecosystems. The main objective of the present study is to analyze the impact of forest road networks on soil erosion and sedimentation in the context of the Zagros forestlands, Iran. This study aims to assess the soil erosion and sedimentation on forest roads in four case studies in the Zagros forestlands. This study collected data using field surveys and SEDMODL equations to determine input factors and sedimentation and erosion rates. This study found that roadside erosion is strongly correlated with geological factors, road width, and precipitation factors. The height changes of 144 benchmarks were recorded during one study year (2021–2022) on four study roads, and the measured results of erosion benchmarks indicated an average soil erosion of 3, 2.6, 4.7, and 3.5 mm per year around the Bideleh, Kohian, Nazi, and Tabarak roads, respectively. This study measured soil erosion and sedimentation at three distances (5, 15, and 25 m) from the road, and found a significant difference in the height changes of the benchmarks at varying distances from the study roads. A hot-spot analysis was conducted using GIS 10.8, and the results indicated that a significant portion of the studied forest roads had very high erosion production and hot spots. The results of the hot-spot analysis indicated that 30.8%, 22.6%, 39.8%, and 14.5% of the study forest roads, Nazi, Tabarak, Bideleh, and Kohian roads, respectively, are identified as areas with very high erosion production and hot spots. These results highlight the need for effective management strategies to minimize the impact of erosion on road infrastructure and the surrounding environment. Overall, this study provides important insights into the soil erosion and sedimentation on forest roads, and the findings presented here can be used to inform future road construction and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden jackal is one of the higher trophic level wild animals in rural Bengal. Their ecological significance is undeniable in regional ecosystems and biodiversity. But gradually they become threatened due to habitat contraction, road killing, poisoning and human persecution. The documentation of jackal death by road accident within the 12-km district highway which is a single lane bituminous road in Patshpur-I Community Development Block under Purba Medinipur district, India, reveals an unpredictable ecological circumstance (n-154). Jackals are killed by road accidents from 2022 to 2023. On behalf of this blameless situation, the present study conducted intensive observations, case studies and spatial-ecological analysis. The study also included stakeholder's perceptions to reach and relates the background of this fact. After observation and analysis, it has been found that the jackal deaths have a spatio-temporal signature and are connected with food and forage ground loss from their habitat-influenced area. Another outcome is that roadside habitat becomes an alternative food source and forage ground for them due to trench construction both alongside of the district highway and illegal dumping of meat wastes and domestic wastes. The seasonal biological activities of the jackals, local weather phenomena and car driver negligence are responsible for the accidental death of jackals along the district highway. Considering all the observed factors, the present study shared some reliable measures to control, protect and conserve this animal for balancing regional ecosystem as well as biodiversity in rural Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research to date suggests that air pollution may affect children's cognitive development. This study followed 12,159 children in the Millennium Cohort Study in England for 17 years to assess the impacts of lifetime PM2.5 exposure at home and school on cognitive performance while accounting for the inter-related environmental factors of greenness and road noise. Lifetime environmental exposures were measured at home from age 9 months and at school from age 5 years. The relationships between PM2.5 and cognitive test performance at ages 3, 5, 7, 11, 14 and 17 years were investigated using multivariable linear regression models accounting for survey design and controlling for greenness, road noise, and other individual, family, school, and areal characteristics. The results suggest little evidence of observable associations between PM2.5 and cognitive performance in England, with or without adjustment for greenness and road noise, at any age in the study population. These findings also apply to greenness and road noise. This is the first study to quantify the relationship between air pollution, greenspace, noise, and children's cognitive performance in a longitudinal cohort study in England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) are semiaquatic mammals distributed throughout the North American continent. They are generalist carnivores with a high potential to affect community structure and dynamics. However, habitat degradation and ecosystem changes have the potential to impact their trophic interactions. Therefore, investigating their diet is critical to understand how anthropogenic disturbances can affect their ecological roles, particularly in the urbanised ecosystems in Florida, where such diet information is currently unavailable. Due to their elusive nature, direct observation of feeding events is a major challenge. Here, we have applied DNA metabarcoding of faecal matter (fDNA), opportunistically collected from river otters killed by road traffic in eastern Florida. Two mitochondrial markers were used to identify prey species' DNA—one for fish and one for vertebrates. A total of 23 unique exact sequence variants (ESVs) were identified, the majority belonging not only to teleosts but also to amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. The prey species identified are known dietary resources for river otters and the recovered dietary profiles provided independently by the fish and vertebrate assays were similar. Among the identified teleost prey, three fish species are considered invasive. Here, we show that when sufficient reference sequences are available, fDNA metabarcoding provides high prey species resolution. The collection and metabarcoding of faecal samples is particularly advantageous for scaling diet studies, both geographically and longitudinally, highlighting the potential of fDNA metabarcoding for the investigation of the diet of predators. This can provide foundational information on the organisation of ecological networks, which is vital for implementing successful ecosystem‐based conservation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In the Galapagos Islands, the main road in Santa Cruz is one of the elements involved in bird road mortality along with vehicles and the impacted species. This study reports the number of roadkilled birds found on the road from the Itabaca Channel to Puerto Ayora, and the main factors, whether avian or environmental, involved in bird roadkill mortality. We collected individual carcasses in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2018 with a prevalence of 278, 252, 265, and 294, respectively, across 21 species. The endemic Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia aureola was the most affected bird. We used a PRIDIT model to rank the top avian and environmental predictors of road mortality. We found that for the sampled years, bird body size (i.e., 8–35 g) and the endemism status (i.e., endemic/native) were the main predictors of roadkill mortality, along with seasonality (i.e., hot season). Weaker predictors related to the bird (i.e., age and sex) and the environment (ecosystem, road slope, vegetation, or precipitation) are also reported as determinants of roadkill mortality. This study on avian mortality aims to inform conservation strategies to reduce the rate of wildlife avian roadkill on Santa Cruz Island and other islands with similar problems.

The article analyses survey data of small mammals collected by the method of live trapping on two trap lines, the dynamics of beaver numbers in one of the colonies, and random encounters of roadkill mammals in the Homilshanski Lisy National Nature Park and nearby areas. The data were collected in 2015–2022 during field research. Small mammals were studied on the second, pine barren terrace of the Siverskyi Donets River. Two trap lines (trapping trenches with five traps in each, made of two-litre PET bottles) were laid in the pine forest. The first was in an undamaged area of the forest, and the second was in an area damaged by a grassland fire in 2005 and currently undergoing natural forest ecosystem restoration. A total of six species of small mammals were recorded during the survey period, including Sylvaemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Sylvaemus tauricus, Mus musculus, Sorex araneus, Crocidura suaveolens, as well as an unidentified Sylvaemus sp. The research has shown that, during the years of peak numbers, not only the abundance of individual species increases, but also the number of recorded species. The beaver colony, where the surveys were conducted, is located in a floodplain on the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in a system of three small lakes interconnected by channels. There are also seasonal peaks in the numbers of roadkill species. In total, 17 species have been recorded dead on the roads, which is almost a third of all mammalian species of the Homilshanski Lisy National Nature Park (as of 2020, 60 species have been registered in the Park). It was found that there is a positive correlation between population increase in different groups of mammals and the frequency of deaths of different groups of mammals and the number of species killed on roads. We identified the places where certain anthropogenic factors (poaching, road repairs) are superimposed on natural phenomena and how this affects the state of fauna protection in the National Nature Park. In general, the population dynamics of mammals over the years correlates with the dynamics of encounters of roadkill birds, reptiles, and amphibians, which we also studied during this period. We have proposed a number of recommendations for developing a strategy for the protection of various species in the National Nature Park and its protected area: measures to reduce the risk of animal death on highways.