Overview
Few of us think twice about driving on roads. Yet the very presence of roads and the act of driving on them can impact the ecological infrastructure that supports an animal's daily life. What chance does a turtle have of successfully laying its eggs when it needs to traverse a busy highway? Is it realistic to expect small mammals to breed when an interstate thoroughfare subdivides their population? These are the sorts of challenges faced by small, often slow-moving, animals, challenges that road engineers and ecologists are trying to address. For countless small species, vehicles traveling at high speeds are nothing less than missiles shooting across migration pathways. For too many animals, the danger can lead to the loss of populations, in part because they simply are not programmed to react to traffic. Salamanders faced with a two-lane road between the forest and their aquatic breeding site, for example, will typically cross that road regardless of the congestion. The result can be hundreds of flattened animals in a single night. Roads and Ecological Infrastructure is the first book to focus on reducing conflict between roads and small animals. Highlighting habitat connections and the challenges and solutions from both transportation and ecological perspectives, the volume covers various themes, including animal behavior related to roads and design approaches to mitigate the negative effects of roads on wildlife. The chapter authors-from transportation experts to university researchers-each promote a goal of realistic problem solving. Conceptual and practical, this book will influence the next decade or more of road design in ecologically sensitive areas and should prevent countless unnecessary wildlife fatalities.
Full Product Details
Author: Kimberly M. Andrews (University of Georgia) ,
Priya Nanjappa (Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies) ,
Seth P. D. Riley (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area)
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Imprint: Johns Hopkins University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 17.80cm
, Height: 2.40cm
, Length: 25.40cm
Weight: 0.794kg
ISBN: 9781421416397
ISBN 10: 1421416395
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 27 July 2015
Recommended Age: From 17
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.
Reviews
Road kills seriously affect some animal populations, and this book should be required reading for high school and college students, faculty, and general readers. CHOICE Reviews This book is for people seeking ways to lessen the impact of roads and vehicular traffic on amphibians, reptiles, and mid- to small-sized mammals. Herpetological Review
Author Information
Kimberly M. Andrews is a wildlife researcher and graduate faculty member at the University of Georgia and the research coordinator at the Jekyll Island Authority. Priya Nanjappa is the amphibian and reptile coordinator at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and a national coordinator for Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Seth P. D. Riley is a wildlife ecologist for the U.S. National Park Service. He is the coeditor of Urban Carnivores: Ecology, Conflict, and Conservation.
