How did the animal come to cross the road? Drawing insights on animal movement from existing roadkill data and expert knowledge

• DOI: 10.1007/s10980-023-01671-5
• Publication Date: 2023-05-20T16:01:49Z
• Authors: Isabella M. F. Ca...; Milton Cezar Ribeiro; Julia C. Assis
• Keywords: Landscape connectivity; Habitat Fragmentation; Fragmentation; Species distribution; Historical Ecology

Abstract Context Animal movement through the landscape is essential to several ecological processes, assuring genetic flow, reproductive success and population dynamics. In fragmented landscapes, species change their patterns according sensitivity cover configuration. Increased habitat loss fragmentation affects resource distribution availability, compelling move more frequently anthropized matrices. Objectives Our aim was provide a new prospect for what known about animal anthropogenic matrix in Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, by analyzing potential distances of mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian species. Methods We used recorded roadkills within Brazilian as source information species’ occurrence. assumed euclidean distance from roadkill spot nearest forest fragment different matrix. Experts’ classification dependence degree, literature survey analyze variation these Results analyzed 90 species, majority them being non-forest dependent (n = 64; 71%). The ranged 0 > 1500 m, forest-dependent presented lower mean (between 772 978 m) than 673 1015 m). resulted 44 articles regarding matrix, referred only 22 No were found 20 mainly reptiles amphibians. Conclusions By comparing values average between remnants Forest, we expect that be traveled reach fragments may restrictive, with higher degree dependence. Despite descriptive, our results important insights on especially less studied such amphibians reptiles.