Identification of roadkill hotspots and the factors affecting wombat vehicle collisions using the citizen science tool, WomSAT
S. Mayadunnage A , H. J. Stannard
B , P. West C and J. M. Old A *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Science, Hawkesbury Campus, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury, Locked bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
B School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
C Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange Agricultural Institute, Orange, NSW, Australia.
Australian Mammalogy 45(1) 53-61 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM22001
Submitted: 13 April 2021 Accepted: 21 May 2022 Published: 6 July 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.
Abstract
Roads directly impact wildlife through vehicle collisions. In Australia only a few studies have examined the impact of environmental characteristics on wombat roadkill. We analysed wombat roadkills reported into WomSAT, a website and application where citizen scientists can upload sightings of wombats, to map wombat roadkill across their distribution. We used Maxent software to identify the main factors influencing wombat roadkill hotspots. A total of 2391 wombat deaths on roads were reported by 567 citizen scientists from 2015 to 2019. More wombat roadkill deaths occurred in winter, with most unaffected by sarcoptic mange. The average daily solar exposure, distance to populated areas, precipitation of warmest quarter (bio 18), temperature seasonality (bio 4), and precipitation seasonality (bio 15) were identified as the main factors influencing wombat roadkill. The most roadkills reported per kilometre (3.7/km) occurred on Old Bega Road and Steeple Flat Road, in the New South Wales southern tablelands. Reduced reporting corresponded with a reduced number of citizen scientists continuing to report sightings over time, reflecting the limitations of the data collected by citizen scientists. However, data should continue to be collected by citizen scientists as it is an easy and low-cost method of collecting data over large areas, and can provide information to managers to support conservation efforts directed at reducing roadkill. Our study emphasises the need to continue to engage and reward citizen scientists for their efforts.
Keywords: Australia, citizen science, mammal, Maxent, roadkill, Vombatus ursinus, wildlife, wombat.
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