Look both ways: factors affecting roadkill probability in Blue-black Grassquits (Volatinia jacarina)

Canadian Journal of Zoology, e-First Articles. The contribution of roads to human economic and social development contrasts with its impact on the environment and wildlife. One of the most significant impacts of roads is wildlife –vehicle collisions. Millions of individuals from numerous species are killed annually around the world. Here we investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of road killing on a small neotropical bird, the Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina (Linnaeus, 1766)). We used a data set of roadkil l records collected between 2010 and 2015 to test the hypotheses that roadkills are concentrated during the breeding period of the species and that road features and weather conditions affect the likelihood of animal–vehicle collisions. We observed that the number of fatalities was temporally and spatially clustered. Roadkills were more frequent in warmer, rainy days with lower wind speed. Fatalities were more commonly associated with two-lane roads compared with dirt and four-lane roads. Given that Blue-black Grassquits are attracted to human-modified habitats, especially to artificial gras slands composed of exotic grasses usually found along the margins of roads, mitigation measures should focus on the management and control of grass populations. Roadside mowing may reduce areas where Blue-black Grassquits can establish territories, and consequently, reduce the activity of the specie s near roads.
Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research