Wildlife Research and Training Institute, P.O. Box 842-20117, Naivasha, Kenya.
University of Minnesota, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108-6074, USA.
Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 5;12(1):5698. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-09555-5.
Rail and road infrastructure is essential for economic growth and development but can cause a gradual loss in biodiversity and degradation of ecosystem function and services. We assessed the influence of underpass dimensions, fencing, proximity to water and roads, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), presence of other species and livestock on underpass use by large and medium-sized mammals. Results revealed hyenas and leopards used the underpasses more than expected whereas giraffes and antelopes used the underpasses less than expected. Generalized linear mixed-effects models revealed that underpass height influenced use by wildlife, with several species preferring to use taller underpasses. Electric fencing increased underpass use by funneling species towards underpasses, except for elephants and black-backed jackal for which it reduced underpass passage. We also found that the use of underpasses by livestock reduced the probability of use by nearly 50% for wildlife species. Carnivore species were more likely to cross underpasses used by their prey. Buffalo, livestock, and hyenas used underpasses characterized by vegetation with higher NDVI and near water sources while baboons, dik-diks and antelope avoided underpasses with high NDVI. Our findings suggest a need for diverse and comprehensive approaches for mitigating the negative impacts of rail on African wildlife.
铁路和道路基础设施对于经济增长和发展至关重要，但也会导致生物多样性逐渐丧失，生态系统功能和服务退化。我们评估了地下通道的尺寸、围栏、与水和道路的距离、归一化差异植被指数 (NDVI)、其他物种和牲畜的存在对大型和中型哺乳动物使用地下通道的影响。结果表明，鬣狗和豹子比预期更频繁地使用地下通道，而长颈鹿和羚羊比预期更少地使用地下通道。广义线性混合效应模型显示，地下通道的高度会影响野生动物的使用情况，一些物种更喜欢使用更高的地下通道。电子围栏通过将物种引导至地下通道来增加地下通道的使用，但对于大象和黑背豺狼来说，它会减少地下通道的通行。我们还发现，牲畜使用地下通道会降低野生动物使用地下通道的概率，接近 50%。食肉动物更有可能穿过其猎物使用的地下通道。水牛、牲畜和鬣狗使用植被 NDVI 较高且靠近水源的地下通道，而狒狒、小羚羊和羚羊则避开 NDVI 较高的地下通道。我们的研究结果表明，需要采取多样化和综合的方法来减轻铁路对非洲野生动物的负面影响。
