Road and traffic factors correlated to wildlife–vehicle collisions in Galicia (Spain)
Enrique Valero A , Juan Picos A , Laura Lagos B and Xana Álvarez A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A AF4 Research Group. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Forestry Engineering College, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira s/n, 36005 Pontevedra, Spain.
B Instituto de Investigación y Análisis Alimentarios, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela s/n, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: giaf4_5@uvigo.es
Wildlife Research 42(1) 25-34 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR14060
Submitted: 8 April 2014 Accepted: 3 March 2015 Published: 22 May 2015
Abstract
Context: Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVC) are one of the major risk factors for the safety of drivers, as well as a great danger to wildlife that moves through the territory. In recent decades, given the growth of these accidents, some researches emerged to understand what are the main causes of this phenomenon and find the best solutions for implementation and try to solve this problem.
Aims: The aim of the present study was to analyse the road and traffic characteristics of road segments with a high occurrence of WVC in north-western Spain, specifically, the collisions with wild ungulates (roe deer and wild boar).
Methods: A nearest-neighbour analysis was used to analyse the spatial distribution of the WVC spots, and so as to identify these hotspots of accidents, we performed a hotspot analysis using the routine nearest-neighbour hierarchical cluster. Then, we calculated the WVC density of each road segment (KP). The existence of differences in the values of variables between high and low accident densities was analysed using a Mann–Whitney U-test for the continuous variables, and a χ2-test for the categorical ones. Then, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify which variables could predict the existence of KPs with a high density of WVC.
Key results: Our results showed that the daily traffic volume, the width of the road, the number of lanes and speed limit affect whether a particular road marker has a high or low density of WVC.
Conclusions: We conclude that high WVC is frequently characterised by wider lanes and shoulders, as well as gentler slopes, whereas in the sections with narrower roads and a shorter curvature radius, there are some conditions (low visibility and speed reduction) that reduce the probability of having an accident with ungulates. However, the speed at which it is possible to drive on a given road section is closely related to the occurrence of WVC.
Implications: These findings emphasise the importance of including mitigation measures in the decision-making when planning and designing infrastructure.
Additional keywords: road fencing, roadkill, risk factors, ungulates, WVC.
References
Al-Ghamdi, A. S., and AlGadhi, S. A. (2004). Warning signs as countermeasures to camel–vehicle collisions in Saudi Arabia. Accident; Analysis and Prevention 36, 749–760.| Warning signs as countermeasures to camel–vehicle collisions in Saudi Arabia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15203352PubMed |
Aragón, S., Braza, F., and San Jose, C. (1995). Socioeconomic, physiognomic, and climatic factors determining the distribution pattern of roe deer Capreolus capreolus in Spain. Acta Theriologica 40, 37–43.
| Socioeconomic, physiognomic, and climatic factors determining the distribution pattern of roe deer Capreolus capreolus in Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Austin, Z., Smart, J. C., Yearley, S., Irvine, R. J., and White, P. C. (2010). Identifying conflicts and opportunities for collaboration in the management of a wildlife resource: a mixed-methods approach. Wildlife Research 37, 647–657.
| Identifying conflicts and opportunities for collaboration in the management of a wildlife resource: a mixed-methods approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bárcena, F., and Hermida, R. (2003). Mamíferos de Galicia. In ‘Enciclopedia galega’. (Ed. R. Otero Pedrayo.) pp. 432–579. (Editorial Novos Vieiros: A Coruña, Spain)
Bashore, T. L., Tzilkowski, W. M., and Bellis, E. D. (1985). Analysis of deer–vehicle collision sites in Pennsylvania. The Journal of Wildlife Management 49, 769–774.
| Analysis of deer–vehicle collision sites in Pennsylvania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brook, B. W., Sodhi, N. S., and Bradshaw, C. J. (2008). Synergies among extinction drivers under global change. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 23, 453–460.
| Synergies among extinction drivers under global change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruinderink, G., and Hazebroek, E. (1996). Ungulate traffic collisions in Europe. Conservation Biology 10, 1059–1067.
| Ungulate traffic collisions in Europe.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clevenger, A. P., Chruszcz, B., and Gunson, K. E. (2001). Highway mitigation fencing reduces wildlife–vehicle collisions. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29, 646–653.
Coffin, A. W. (2007). From roadkill to road ecology: a review of the ecological effects of roads. Journal of Transport Geography 15, 396–406.
| From roadkill to road ecology: a review of the ecological effects of roads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Consellería de Medio Ambiente Territorio e Infraestructuras (CMATI) (2013). ‘Catálogo Visual de Estradas.’ (CMATI, Xunta de Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.) Available at http://www.cmati.xunta.es/seccion-tema/c/Infraestruturas_Estradas?content=Direccion_Xeral_Infraestruturas/Estradas/seccion.html&std=catalogo-estradas.html. [Verified 25 October 2013]
Cserkész, T., Ottlecz, B., Cserkész-Nagy, Á., and Farkas, J. (2013). Interchange as the main factor determining wildlife–vehicle collision hotspots on the fenced highways: spatial analysis and applications. European Journal of Wildlife Research 59, 587–597.
| Interchange as the main factor determining wildlife–vehicle collision hotspots on the fenced highways: spatial analysis and applications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dandy, N., Ballantyne, S., Moseley, D., Gill, R., Peace, A., and Quine, C. (2011). Preferences for wildlife management methods among the peri-urban public in Scotland. European Journal of Wildlife Research 57, 1213–1221.
| Preferences for wildlife management methods among the peri-urban public in Scotland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diamond, J. (1989). Overview of recent extinctions. In ‘Conservation for the Twenty-first Century’. (Eds D. Western and MC Pearl.) pp. 37–41. (Wildlife Conservation International, New York Zoological Society: New York.)
Diaz-Varela, E. R., Vazquez, I., Marey, M. F., and Álvarez, C. J. (2011). Assessing methods of mitigating wildlife–vehicle collisions by accident characterization and spatial analysis. Transportation Research Part D. Transport and Environment 16, 281–287.
| Assessing methods of mitigating wildlife–vehicle collisions by accident characterization and spatial analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dunn, R. R., Harris, N. C., Colwell, R. K., Koh, L. P., and Sodhi, N. S. (2009). The sixth mass coextinction: are most endangered species parasites and mutualists? Proceedings. Biological Sciences 276, 3037–3045.
| The sixth mass coextinction: are most endangered species parasites and mutualists?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dytham, C. (Ed.) (2003). ‘Choosing and Using Statistics. A Biologist’s Guid.’ 2nd edn. (Blackwell: Malden, MA.)
Ferreras, P., Aldama, J. J., Beltrán, J. F., and Delibes, M. (1992). Rates and causes of mortality in a fragmented population of Iberian lynx Felis pardina Temminck, 1824. Biological Conservation 61, 197–202.
| Rates and causes of mortality in a fragmented population of Iberian lynx Felis pardina Temminck, 1824.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forman, R. T., and Alexander, L. E. (1998). Roads and their major ecological effects. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 29, 207–231.
| Roads and their major ecological effects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Forman, R. T. T., Sperling, D., Bissonette, J. A., Clevenger, A. P., Cutshall, C. D., Dale, V. H., Fahrig, L., France, R., Goldman, C. R., Heanue, K., Jones, J. A., Swanson, F. J., Turrentine, T., and Winter, T. C. (Ed.) (2002). ‘Road Ecology: Science and Solutions.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Glista, D. J., DeVault, T. L., and DeWoody, J. A. (2009). A review of mitigation measures for reducing wildlife mortality on roadways. Landscape and Urban Planning 91, 1–7.
| A review of mitigation measures for reducing wildlife mortality on roadways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gonser, R. A., Jensen, R. R., and Wolf, S. E. (2009). The spatial ecology of deer–vehicle collisions. Applied Geography (Sevenoaks, England) 29, 527–532.
| The spatial ecology of deer–vehicle collisions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gunson, K. E., Clevenger, A. P., Ford, A. T., Bissonette, J. A., and Hardy, A. (2009). A comparison of data sets varying in spatial accuracy used to predict the occurrence of wildlife–vehicle collisions. Environmental Management 44, 268–277.
| A comparison of data sets varying in spatial accuracy used to predict the occurrence of wildlife–vehicle collisions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19452205PubMed |
Gunson, K. E., Mountrakis, G., and Quackenbush, L. J. (2011). Spatial wildlife–vehicle collision models: a review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects. Journal of Environmental Management 92, 1074–1082.
| Spatial wildlife–vehicle collision models: a review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21190788PubMed |
Hubbard, M. W., Danielson, B. J., and Schmitz, R. A. (2000). Factors influencing the location of deer–vehicle accidents in Iowa. The Journal of Wildlife Management 64, 707–713.
| Factors influencing the location of deer–vehicle accidents in Iowa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huijser, M. P., Duffield, J. W., Clevenger, A. P., Ament, R. J., and McGowen, P. T. (2009). Cost–benefit analyses of mitigation measures aimed at reducing collisions with large ungulates in the United States and Canada; a decision support tool. Ecology and Society 14, 15.
Instituto Galego de Estatística (IGE) (2009). ‘Densidade da Rede de Estradas.’ (IGE, Xunta de Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.) Available at http://www.ige.eu/igebdt/selector.jsp?COD=473&paxina=001&c=0101001. [Verified 14 June 2013]
Joyce, T. L., and Mahoney, S. P. (2001). Spatial and temporal distributions of moose–vehicle collisions in Newfoundland. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29, 281–291.
Kaczensky, P., Knauer, F., Krze, B., Jonozovic, M., Adamic, M., and Gossow, H. (2003). The impact of high speed, high volume traffic axes on brown bears in Slovenia. Biological Conservation 111, 191–204.
| The impact of high speed, high volume traffic axes on brown bears in Slovenia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lagos, L., Picos, J., and Valero, E. (2012). Temporal pattern of wild ungulate-related traffic accidents in northwest Spain. European Journal of Wildlife Research 58, 661–668.
| Temporal pattern of wild ungulate-related traffic accidents in northwest Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Langbein, J., Putman, R., and Pokorny, B. (2010). Traffic collisions involving deer and other ungulates in Europe and available measures for mitigation. In ‘Ungulate Management in Europe: Problems and Practices’. (Eds M. Apollonio and R. Andersen.) pp. 215–259. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
LeBlanc, Y., and Martel, D. (2006). Upgrading a 144 km section of highway in prime moose habitat: where, why, and how to reduce moose–vehicle collisions. In ‘Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation’. (Eds C. L. Irwin, P. Garrett, and K. P. McDermott.) pp. 524–544. (North Carolina State University Center for Transportation and the Environment: Raleigh, NC.)
Levine, N. (2004). ‘CrimeStat III: a Spatial Statistics Program for the Analysis of Crime Incident Locations (Version 3.0).’ (Ed. Ned Levine & Associates.) (National Institute of Justice: Washington, DC.)
Malins, M. (2006). Public perception of deer management and control strategies. Advances in Deer Biology 36, .
Malo, J. E., Suarez, F., and Diez, A. (2004). Can we mitigate animal–vehicle accidents using predictive models? Journal of Applied Ecology 41, 701–710.
| Can we mitigate animal–vehicle accidents using predictive models?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martínez Cortizas, A., and Pérez Alberti, A. (2000). ‘Atlas Climático de Galicia.’ (Consellería de Medio Ambiente Territorio e Infraestructuras, Xunta de Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.)
Mastro, L., Conover, M. R., and Frey, S. N. (2008). Deer–vehicle collision prevention techniques. Human-Wildlife Conflicts 2, 80–92.
McShea, W. J., Stewart, C. M., Kearns, L. J., Liccioli, S., and Kocka, D. (2008). Factors affecting autumn deer-vehicle collisions in a rural Virginia county. Human–Wildlife Conflicts 2, 110–121.
Ministerio de Fomento (2009). ‘Anuario Estadístico 2009.’ (Ministerio de Fomento: Madrid.) Available at http://www.fomento.gob.es/Contraste/MFOM/LANG_CASTELLANO/ATENCION_CIUDADANO/INFORMACION_ESTADISTICA/EstadisticaSintesis/Anuario/2009/TablasAnuario2009.htm. [Verified 20 May 2013.]
Morelle, K., Lehaire, F., and Lejeune, P. (2013). Spatio-temporal patterns of wildlife–vehicle collisions in a region with a high-density road network. Natureza & Conservação 5, 53–73.
| Spatio-temporal patterns of wildlife–vehicle collisions in a region with a high-density road network.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neumann, W., Ericsson, G., Dettki, H., Bunnefeld, N., Keuler, N. S., Helmers, D. P., and Radeloff, V. C. (2012). Difference in spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife road-crossings and wildlife–vehicle collisions. Biological Conservation 145, 70–78.
| Difference in spatiotemporal patterns of wildlife road-crossings and wildlife–vehicle collisions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pallant, J. (2001). ‘SPSS Survival Manual: a Step-by-step Guide to Data Analysis using SPSS for Windows (Version 10).’ (Allen & Unwin: Melbourne.)
Putmam, R. (1997). Deer and road traffic accidents: options for management. Journal of Environmental Management 51, 43–57.
| Deer and road traffic accidents: options for management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ramp, D., Caldwell, J., Edwards, K. A., Warton, D., and Croft, D. B. (2005). Modelling of wildlife fatality hotspots along the snowy mountain highway in New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 126, 474–490.
| Modelling of wildlife fatality hotspots along the snowy mountain highway in New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ramp, D., Wilson, V. K., and Croft, D. B. (2006). Assessing the impacts of roads in peri-urban reserves: Road-based fatalities and road usage by wildlife in the Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 129, 348–359.
| Assessing the impacts of roads in peri-urban reserves: Road-based fatalities and road usage by wildlife in the Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Romin, L. A., and Bissonette, J. A. (1996). Temporal and spatial distribution of highway mortality of mule deer on newly constructed roads at Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah. Western North American Naturalist 56, 1–11.
Rowden, P., Steinhardt, D., and Sheehan, M. (2008). Road crashes involving animals in Australia. Accident. Analysis and Prevention 40, 1865–1871.
| Road crashes involving animals in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19068288PubMed |
Seiler, A. (2004). Trends and spatial patterns in ungulate-vehicle collisions in Sweden. Wildlife Biology 10, 301–313.
Seiler, A. (2005). Predicting locations of moose–vehicle collisions in Sweden. Journal of Applied Ecology 42, 371–382.
| Predicting locations of moose–vehicle collisions in Sweden.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Steiner, W., Leisch, F., and Hackländer, K. (2014). A review on the temporal pattern of deer–vehicle accidents: impact of seasonal, diurnal and lunar effects in cervids. Accident; Analysis and Prevention 66, 168–181.
| A review on the temporal pattern of deer–vehicle accidents: impact of seasonal, diurnal and lunar effects in cervids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24549035PubMed |
Thomas, C. D., Cameron, A., Green, R. E., Bakkenes, M., Beaumont, L. J., Collingham, Y. C., Erasmus, B. F., De Siqueira, M. F., Grainger, A., and Hannah, L. (2004). Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427, 145–148.
| Extinction risk from climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXhtFOgtQ%3D%3D&md5=b4930780045b6564a776351741ec3ba1CAS | 14712274PubMed |
Underhill, J. E., and Angold, P. G. (1999). Effects of roads on wildlife in an intensively modified landscape. Environmental Reviews 8, 21–39.
| Effects of roads on wildlife in an intensively modified landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Valero, E., Picos, J., Lago, F., and Lagos, L. (2012). Wildlife related traffic accidents in Galicia, northwest Spain: incidence, pattern and solutions. In ‘Programme & Abstracts 2012 IENE International Conference. Safeguarding Ecological Functions Across Transport Infrastructure’. (Ed. Swedish Biodiversity Centre.) pp. 169. (Swedish Biodiversity Centre: Berlin-Potsdam, Germany.)
Valero, E., Picos, J., Lago, F., and Lagos, L. (2013). Los accidentes de tráfico relacionados con fauna salvaje en Galicia: incidencia, patrón y soluciones. In ‘Proceedings of the 6th Congreso Forestal Español’. (Ed. Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales.) pp. 250–263. (Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.)
van der Grift, E. A., van der Ree, R., Fahrig, L., Findlay, S., Houlahan, J., Jaeger, J. A., Klar, N., Madrinan, L. F., and Olson, L. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of road mitigation measures. Biodiversity and Conservation 22, 425–448.
| Evaluating the effectiveness of road mitigation measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xie, Z., and Yan, J. (2008). Kernel density estimation of traffic accidents in a network space. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems 32, 396–406.
| Kernel density estimation of traffic accidents in a network space.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Xunta de Galicia (2010). ‘Memoria de Tráfico da Rede Autonómica de Estradas de Galicia 2010.’ (Consellería de Medio Ambiente Territorio e Infraestructuras, Xunta de Galicia: Santiago de Compostela, Spain.) Available at http://www.cmati.xunta.es/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=46257&name=DLFE-2306.pdf. [Verified 25 May 2013]
