Road Zone Effects in Small-Mammal Communities

This study focused on the putative effects of roads on small-mammal communities in a high desert region of southern Utah. Specifically, the authors tested whether or not roads create adjacent zones characterized by lower small-mammal densities, abundance, and diversity. They sampled an abundance of small mammals at increasing distances from Interstate 15 during two summers. They recorded 11 genera and 13 species. The authors detected no clear abundance, density, or diversity effects relative to distance from the road. Only two of 13 species were never captured near roads. The abundance of the remaining 11 small mammal species was either similar at different distances from the road or higher closer to the road. The authors conclude that although roads may act as barriers and possible sources of mortality, adjacent zones of vegetation often provide favorable microhabitat in the desert landscape for many small mammals.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol14/iss1/art27/
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/17083087
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2009 John A. Bissonette and Silvia A. Rosa
• Authors:
  • Bissonette, John A
  • Rosa, Silvia A
• Publication Date: 2009-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-15
• Serial:
  • Ecology and Society
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Resilience Alliance Publications
  • ISSN: 1708-3087
  • Serial URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deserts; Habitat (Ecology); Mammals; Roadside fauna
• Identifier Terms: Interstate 15
• Geographic Terms: Utah
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01497492
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 9 2013 4:12PM