info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Seasonal and spatial patterns of mammalian road kill in northeastern Cordoba Province, Argentina
Fecha
2020-11Registro en:
González Calderón, Alvaro; Seasonal and spatial patterns of mammalian road kill in northeastern Cordoba Province, Argentina; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment; 11-2020; 1-9
0165-0521
CONICET Digital
CONICET
Autor
González Calderón, Alvaro
Resumen
Wildlife–vehicle collisions are a serious conservation issue. In Argentina, wildlife road kill represents a threat to numerous species, especially around protected areas. With the aim of analyzing a possible seasonal and spatial patterns of mammalian death due to road kill, I sampled 97 km of the RP No. 17 in the south of multiple-use natural protected area ‘Bañados del Río Dulce y Laguna Mar Chiquita’ in Cordoba Province, Argentina. I analyzed the frequencies and density of road kill in winter 2015, spring 2015, and summer 2015/2016. The Kilometric Index of Abundance was used to identify the road stretches with elevated road kill. I recorded a total of 190 individuals representing 13 species. Of the mammalian species that inhabit the study area, more than 80% were affected by vehicle collisions. Three critical road stretches were identified. Mammalian mortality suggests a reduction of 42.36% between winter and spring. Lycalopex gymnocercus was the species with a statistically significant reduction (Mann–Whitney U, p = <0.03) in its road kill. Seasonal differences in mammalian mortality were likely due to seasonally variable behavior, abundances, and reproductive activity. This study provides to wildlife managers an opportunity to direct mitigation measures to reduce mammalian road kill.