Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Using traffic flow theory to model traffic mortality in mammals

  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Traffic has a considerable effect on population and community dynamics through the disruption and fragmentation of habitat and traffic mortality. This paper deals with a systematic way to acquire knowledge about the probabilities of successful road crossing by mammals and what characteristics affect this traversability. We derive a model from traffic flow theory to estimate traffic mortality in mammals related to relevant road, traffic and species characteristics. The probability of successful road crossing is determined by the pavement width of the road, traffic volume, traversing speed of the mammals and their body length. We include the traversability model in a simple two-patch population model to explore the effects of these road, traffic and species characteristics on population dynamics. Analysis of the models show that, for our parameter ranges, traffic volume and traversing speed have the largest effect on traffic mortality. The population size is especially negatively affected when roads have to be crossed during the daily movements. These predictions could be useful to determine the expected effectiveness of mitigating measures relative to the current situation. Mitigating measures might alter the road and traffic characteristics. The effects of these changes on traffic mortality and population dynamics could be analysed by calculating the number of traffic victims before and after the mitigating measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams L.W. and Geis A.D. 1983. Effects of roads on small mammals. Journal of Applied Ecology 20: 403–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amarasekare P. 1998. Interactions between local dynamics and dispersal: insights from single species models. Theoretical Population Biology 53: 44–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews A. 1990. Fragmentation of habitat by roads and utility corridors: a review. Australian Zoologist 26: 130–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baerwald J.E. 1976. Transportation and Engineering Handbook. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botma H. 1986. Traffic operation on busy two-lane roads in the Netherlands. In: Transportation Research Record 1091. TRB, National Research Council, Washington DC, USA, 126–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke G.P., White P.C.L. and Harris S. 1998. Effects of roads on badger Meles meles populations in south-west England. Biological Conservation 86: 117–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clevenger A.P., Chruszcz B. and Gunson K.E. 2003. Spatial patterns and factors influencing small vertebrate fauna roadkill aggregations. Biological Conservation 109: 15–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies J.M., Roper T.J. and Shepherdson D.J. 1987. Seasonal distribution of road kills in the European badger (Meles meles). Journal of Zoology 211: 525–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drew D.R. 1968. Traffic flow theory and control. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York, USA, 467 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelstein-Keshet L., 1988. Mathematical Models in Biology. McGraw-Hill, New York, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman R.T.T. and Alexander L.E. 1998. Roads and their major ecological effects. Annual Review of ecology and systematics 29: 207–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garret L.C. and Conway G.A. 1999. Characteristics of moose-vehicle collisions in Anchorage, Alaska, 1991-1995. Journal of Safety Research 30: 219–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groot Bruinderink G.W.T.A. and Hazebroek E. 1996. Ungulate traffic collisions in Europe. Conservation Biology 10: 1059–1067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haight F.A. 1963. Mathematical Theories of traffic flow. Academic Press, London, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haight F.A. 1966. Handbook of the Poisson distribution. John Wiley and Sons, New York, New York, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harders J. 1968. Die Leistungsfaehigkeit nicht signalgeregelter staedtischer Verkehrsknote. Strassenbau und Strassenverkehrstechnik Heft 76.

  • Hels T. and Buchwald E. 2001. The effect of road kills on amphibian populations. Biological Conservation 99: 331–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huijser M.P. and Bergers P.J.M. 2000. The effect of roads and traffic on hedgehog (Erinaceus europaneus) populations. Biological Conservation 95: 111–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt J. and Abduljabbar J. 1993. Crossing the road: a method of assessing pedestrian crossing difficulty. Traffic Engineering + Control 11: 526–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaarsma C.F. and van Langevelde F. 1997. Right-of-Way Manage-ment and habitat fragmentation: an integral approach with the spatial concept of the Traffic Calmed Rural Area. In: Hydro-Quebec Centre de Documentation Environnement (ed.), Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-way Management. Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium, 24-26 February. Elsevier Science, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, pp 383-392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson S.D. and Griffin C.R. 1998. Toward a practical strategy for mitigating highway impacts on wildlife. In: Evink G.L., Garrett P., Zeigler D. and Berry J. (eds), Proceedings of the International Conference on Wildlife Ecology and Transportation. Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, Florida, USA, pp. 17-22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller V. and Pfister H.P. 1997. Wildlife passages as a means of mitigating effects of habitat fragmentation by roads and railway lines. In:Kanters K.J., Piepers A. and Hendriks-Heersma D. (eds), Habitat fragmentation and infrastructure. Proceedings of the International Conference on Habitat Fragmentation, infrastructure and the role of ecological engineering. Maastricht/The Hague, The Netherlands, pp. 70–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby K.J. 1997. Habitat fragmentation and infrastructure: problems and research. In: Kanters K.J., Piepers A. and Hendriks-Heersma D. (eds), Habitat fragmentation and infrastructure. Proceedings of the International Conference on Habitat Fragmentation, infrastructure and the role of ecological engineering. Maastricht/The Hague, Netherlands, pp. 32-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange R., Twisk P., van Winden A. and van Diepenveen A. 1994. Zoogdieren van West-Europa. KNNV, Utrecht, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lankester K., van Apeldoorn R., Meelis E. and Verboom J. 1991. Management perspectives for populations of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in a fragmented landscape. Journal of Applied Ecology 28: 561–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leutzbach W. 1988. Introduction to the theory of traffic flow. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 204 pp.

  • Mader H.J., 1984. Animal habitat isolation by roads and agricultural fields. Biological Conservation 29: 81–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munguira M.L. and Thomas J.A. 1992. Use of road verges by butterfly and burnet populations, and the effect of roads on adult dispersal and mortality. Journal of Applied Ecology 29: 316–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) 1986. Economic design of low-traffic roads. Paris, France.

  • Oxley D.J., Fenton M.B. and Carmody G.R. 1974. The effects of roads on populations of small mammals. Journal of Applied Ecology 11: 51–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters R.H. 1983. The ecological implications of body size. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putman R.J. 1997. Deer and road traffic accidents: options for management. Journal of Environmental Management 51: 43–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romin L.A. and Bissonnette J.A. 1996. Deer-vehicle collisions: status of state monitoring activities and mitigation efforts. Wild-life Society Bulletin 24: 276–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh A.P. and Satheesan S.M. 2000. Designing railroads, highways and canals in Protected Areas to reduce man-elephant conflicts. Paper presented at the 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-way Management. Cal-gary, Alberta, Canada, September 9-13.

  • Spellerberg I.F. 1998. Ecological effects of roads and traffic: a literature review. Global Ecology and Biography Letters 7: 317–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trombulak S.C. and Frissell C.A. 2000. Review of ecological effects of roads on terrestrial and aquatic communities. Conservation Biology 14: 18–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Bohemen H.D. 1998. Habitat fragmentation, infrastructure and ecological engineering. Ecological Engineering 11: 199–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Langevelde F. and Jaarsma C.F. 1997. Habitat fragmentation, the role of minor rural roads and their traversability. In: Kanters K.J., Piepers A. and Hendriks-Heersma D. (eds), Habitat fragmentation and infrastructure. Proceedings of the International Conference on Habitat Fragmentation, infrastructure and the role of ecological engineering. Maastricht/The Hague, Netherlands, pp. 171-182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen H.J.W. 1994. Corridor function of a road verge for dispersal of stenotopic heathland ground beetles (Carabidae). Biological Conservation 3: 339–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Resource Ecology Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Bornsesteeg 69, 6708 PD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Frank van Langevelde

  2. Land Use Planning Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Gen. Foulkesweg 13, 6703 BJ, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Catharinus F. Jaarsma

Authors
  1. Frank van Langevelde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catharinus F. Jaarsma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Langevelde, F., Jaarsma, C.F. Using traffic flow theory to model traffic mortality in mammals. Landscape Ecology 19, 895–907 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-004-0464-z

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-004-0464-z

Search

Navigation