Influence of Transport Infrastructure on Nature

Abstract: The use of 20 wildlife overpasses (green bridges) and 23 underpasses (10 viaducts, 6 river crossings or culverts, 7 wildlife underpasses) by medium sized and large mammals as well as about two dozens of small mammal underpasses and several non-wildlife passages have been studied during winter and spring 2004 and 2005. The study was carried out at three motorways, three highways and three state main roads in southern Germany (Baden-WĂźrttemberg) and at one motorway in northern Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern). Amongst the observed animals were red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, wild boar, European hare, red fox, racoon dog, badger, beech marten (as well as pine marten and polecat) and otter. The results document that green bridges and larger viaducts were used most intensively (by about 85% of all animals recorded). The use of the smaller river crossings, culverts and small mammal underpasses was, with only 15% of all recorded animals, low. Fox, hare and roe deer accounted for about 72% (videos) and 89% (tracks) of passage crossings by animals. Using different multiple regression analyses eight of some 28 independent variables proved to be of significant influence in some cases on the use of green bridges by the species investigated: width showed a positive, length and age of the bridges as well as the amount of wooded area on the bridges, noise, human activities, number of roads leading to the bridges and buildings in their nearby neighbourhood a negative relation. The barrier effect of the roads studied seems to be mitigated sufficiently by the crossing structures although crossing rates are substantially lower than before road construction.
Key words: motorways, highways, mammals, use of wildlife passages, Baden-WĂźrttemberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Suggested citation: Georgii B., Peters-Ostenberg E., Henneberg M. & Knauer F. 2007. Use of wildlife crossing structures by medium sized and large mammals. In: B. Jackowiak (ed.). Influence of Transport Infrastructure on Nature. General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways, p. 189-200. Warszawa-Poznań-Lublin.
Full text of this publication (in English):

Full text of this publication (in Polish):
IoTIoN main