Vehicular impact as a source of wildlife mortality in the Western Pacific Coast of Mexico

• DOI: 10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.4.2084
• Publication Date: 2018-11-23T23:15:36Z
• Authors: Carlos Delgado-Trejo; Rubén Herrera-Rob...; Nabil Martínez-He...; Cutzi Bedolla-Ochoa; Catherine E. Hart; Javier Alvarado-Díaz; Ireri Suazo-Ortuño; Héctor Nava-Bravo; Leonel Lopez-Toledo; Eduardo Mendoza
• Keywords: Endemism

Road construction produce abrupt changes in landscape topography, microclimate, vegetation cover and levels of traffic noise. Moreover, road networks negatively affect vertebrate abundance, population gene flow, animal behavior individual survival. Between July 2010 January 2011, we conducted 10 surveys animals killed on a Michoacán, Mexico. We recorded total 314 which included: 15 species reptiles, 13 mammals, 9 birds, 1 amphibian. Mammals were the most impacted accounting for 65% kills followed by reptiles (25%). Mortality concentrated sections combining low sinuosity with high forest cover. Of reptile recorded, 6 endemic listed as globally threatened or subject to special protection mammals also included conservation concern, 3 Our findings confirm that roads are major mortality source wild fauna. Strategies greatly needed, at global local level, mitigate impact biodiversity.