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Citation
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Quintana I, Cifuentes EF, Dunnink JA, Ariza M, Martínez-Medina D, Fantacini FM, Shrestha BR, Richard FJ. Sci. Rep. 2022; 12(1): e2902. |
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Abstract
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The global expansion of road networks threatens apex predator conservation and ecosystem functioning. This occurs through wildlife-vehicle collisions, habitat loss and fragmentation, reduced genetic connectivity and increased poaching. We reviewed road impacts on 36 apex predator species and assessed their risk from current roads based on road exposure and species vulnerability. Our findings reveal all apex predators are exposed to road impacts. Eight of the ten species with the highest risk occur in Asia, although other high-risk species are present in the Americas, Africa and Europe. The sloth bear suffers the highest risk of all apex predators, followed by the tiger and dhole.
Per year, road accidents impact more than 100 individuals of American black bear (Ursus americanus) in the USA, maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), puma (Puma concolor) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Brazil, serval (Leptailurus serval) in South Africa, and Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain. East Africa shows a relatively high WVC incidence despite limited monitoring effort and lower density of roads, likely due to the region’s high apex predator richness (Fig. 1). Nevertheless, large gaps in documented WVC incidents exist in Southeast Asia, tropical America, and West and Central Africa (Fig. 1C). Moreover, WVC data is mainly missing for species distributed in Southeast Asia, such as clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) and Asiatic golden cat (Catopuma temminckii).
Based on species risk from roads, we propose a widely applicable method to assess the potential impact of future roads on apex predators. We applied this method to proposed road developments in three areas: the Brazilian Amazon, Africa, and Nepal, to locate high-impact road segments. Roughly 500 protected areas will be intersected by these roads, threatening core apex predator habitats.
We advocate the need for rigorous road development planning to apply effective mitigation measures as an urgent priority and to avoid construction in wilderness areas and predator strongholds.
Language: en |