Worldwide, biodiversity is declining as anthropogenic disturbance increases. A major threat to mammal, reptile, amphibian, and bird survival is road traffic. Many strategies to mitigate the effects of road traffic have been proposed; however, these are typically designed for large mammals, and are not suitable for all affected taxa.
In a recent study, former Queen’s Biology MSc student Mathew Macpherson, Queen’s Biology Professor Dr. Stephen Lougheed, and collaborators evaluate the effectiveness of different designs and materials used in barrier fencing that act to mitigate gray ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) road mortality at the Queen’s University Biological Station. Gray ratsnake is designated a species-at-risk in Canada, with road mortality contributing to their declines.
Macpherson et al. find that fencing material, height, and shape all contribute to variation in ratsnake climbing success. The most effective barrier design was the 100 cm metal mesh fencing with a lip, which prevented the escape of ratsnakes in 93% of trials. The researchers’ work is an excellent example of using behavioural and morphological attributes of at-risk species to determine suitable conservation strategies. To learn more, read their article in Global Ecology and Conservation.
This research is co-authored by Jacqueline Litzgus (Laurentian University), and Patrick Weatherhead (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign).
