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Relative Effects of Road Risk, Habitat Suitability, and Connectivity on Wildlife Roadkills: The Case of Tawny Owls (Strix aluco)

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  • Sara M Santos
  • Rui Lourenço
  • António Mira
  • Pedro Beja

Abstract

Background: Despite its importance for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, there is still incomplete understanding of factors responsible for high road mortality. In particular, few empirical studies examined the idea that spatial variation in roadkills is influenced by a complex interplay between road-related factors, and species-specific habitat quality and landscape connectivity. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study we addressed this issue, using a 7-year dataset of tawny owl (Strix aluco) roadkills recorded along 37 km of road in southern Portugal. We used a multi-species roadkill index as a surrogate of intrinsic road risk, and we used a Maxent distribution model to estimate habitat suitability. Landscape connectivity was estimated from least-cost paths between tawny owl territories, using habitat suitability as a resistance surface. We defined 10 alternative scenarios to compute connectivity, based on variation in potential movement patterns according to territory quality and dispersal distance thresholds. Hierarchical partitioning of a regression model indicated that independent variation in tawny owl roadkills was explained primarily by the roadkill index (70.5%) and, to a much lesser extent, by landscape connectivity (26.2%), while habitat suitability had minor effects (3.3%). Analysis of connectivity scenarios suggested that owl roadkills were primarily related to short range movements (

Suggested Citation

  • Sara M Santos & Rui Lourenço & António Mira & Pedro Beja, 2013. "Relative Effects of Road Risk, Habitat Suitability, and Connectivity on Wildlife Roadkills: The Case of Tawny Owls (Strix aluco)," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0079967
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Clara Grilo & Joana Sousa & Fernando Ascensão & Hugo Matos & Inês Leitão & Paula Pinheiro & Monica Costa & João Bernardo & Dyana Reto & Rui Lourenço & Margarida Santos-Reis & Eloy Revilla, 2012. "Individual Spatial Responses towards Roads: Implications for Mortality Risk," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-11, September.
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