THE EFFECTS OF HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS ON WILDLIFE: A CASE STUDY OF BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Road fragmentation is a concern for wildlife viability in and adjacent to protected areas in the Rocky Mountains (North America). Roads create a barrier to wildlife movement and have documented demographic effects, including the alteration of animal communities, the reduction of biological diversity, and the increased threat of extinction. Wildlife movements across and adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 1A were studied in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. A variety of animal tracks were observed crossing roadways and on transects adjacent to roads. Data was analyzed to assess the barrier effect and a geographical information system (GIS) was used to identify landscape attributes associated with species movements. The TCH was found to be a barrier to movement for all species. In less perturbed environments, it was noted that movement patterns for wildlife communities were spatially continuous and individual species movement was complex. This movement was not observed across the TCH. An interpolation of point data showed sites of high crossing frequency within the continuum of crossing points. General predictors for movement by aspect were found to be the south, southwest, and west facing slopes. Flat slopes, areas of low topographic complexity, and slopes lower than 5 deg were also effective predictors of animal movements. Data suggests that maintaining contiguous tracts of habitat with the above attributes facilitates normal wildlife movement most effectively. Mitigation that approximates previous patterns can only be achieved by elevating/burying extensive sections of highway.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    Elsevier

    The Boulevard, Langford Lane
    Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
  • Authors:
    • Alexander, S M
    • Waters, N M
  • Publication Date: 2000-2

Language

  • English

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00800330
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, ATRI
  • Created Date: Oct 5 2000 12:00AM