Influence of Transport Infrastructure on Nature

Abstract: Since 1975, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the Netherlands has been building fauna passageways crossing under or over motorways and has also adapted viaducts, bridges and culverts for joint use by fauna. Most fauna passageways are realised over and under 4-lane highways with intensive traffic and concern badger pipes,fauna strips under bridges and in culverts and stubwalls alongside the road crossings under viaducts. All are constructed primarily aiming for a save passage of mammalian species. Surveys have been carried out, using different methods, to evaluate the use of fauna passageways by target species. Amphibians use a significant number of fauna passageways as well,including badger pipes longer than 40 meters. Detailed information of amphibian use was obtained from footprints and tracks on paper using an ‘ink bed’ or on sand beds on the passageway. These methods work well to distinguish prints of the species groups ‘frog’, ‘toad’ and ‘newt’. These methods are not suitable to distinguish individual amphibian species. For the most frequently used passages the number of passages is 1 amphibian in 3 to 4 days, which equals 20 or more animals in the research period. Toads use fauna passageways more frequently than frogs and newts. Newts were not recorded in fauna pipes. The frequency of amphibian use for passages under motorways is considerably lower than expected for seasonal migration. On the other hand for ‘occasional use’ the requirements of a fauna passageway seem less strict, compared with passages for seasonal migration. The results indicate that different types of fauna passageways play a role in mitigating the barrier effect of motorways by facilitating potential dispersion of amphibians. For choosing the best solution for a fauna passageway the requirements for amphibians next to mammalian target species are important. Fauna passageways should be located near suitable habitat.
Key words: fauna passageway, amphibians, The Netherlands

Suggested citation: Smit G. F. J., Brandjes J. & Veenbaas G. 2007. Amphibians crossing under motorways: solutions for migration or dispersion? In: B. Jackowiak (ed.). Influence of Transport Infrastructure on Nature. General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways, p. 219-224. Warszawa-Poznań-Lublin.
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