Wildlife roadkill and COVID‐19: A biologically significant, but heterogeneous, reduction

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 59(5), P. 1291 - 1301

Published: Feb. 22, 2022

Abstract Collisions with vehicles are a major cause of wildlife mortality. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, many countries enforced lockdowns that reduced vehicular traffic and consequently wildlife‐vehicle collisions. However, no study has yet explored how traffic‐related mortality declined across multiple species wildlife, leaving doubts about species‐specific impact on ecology management. We modelled two (in spring autumn 2020) influenced collisions throughout Slovenia, in central Europe, by comparing weekly roadkill 2020 2010–2019 time series for European roe deer ( n = 53,259), red fox 9,889), Eurasian badger 5,170), brown hare 5,050), stone marten 4,267), wild boar 1,188) 1,088). lockdown (16 March–30 April 2020), we observed far fewer than expected badgers. (20 October–31 December significantly boar, but noted an excess Traffic reduction had influence deer, whose decreased between 156 321 individuals. Heterogeneous changes road seven studied indicate reductions human mobility can trigger complex dynamics assemblages, which may generate compensatory effects beyond lockdowns. For some species, such as local number attained significant fraction overall This could affect population cases where repeated over years. Policy implications . Management aimed at reducing traffic, therefore disturbance roadkill, be evaluated using time‐series analysis data species. times restricted movement, local‐scale should estimated accounted adaptive management, planning culling quotas, to minimize their ecological socio‐economic impacts while optimizing outcomes science‐based

Language: Английский

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It Is a Wild World in the City: Urban Wildlife Conservation and Communication in the Age of COVID-19

Diversity, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(7), P. 539 - 539

Published: July 4, 2022

Most ecosystems are increasingly being degraded and reduced by human activities at the local global scales. In contrast, urban environments expanding as increasing portions of humanity move into cities. Despite common perception among biologists that areas biological deserts, cities offer habitat for many non-human species, but their ecology conservation remain poorly studied. this review, we first provide an update on current state knowledge wildlife, then briefly examine indirect effects COVID-19 pandemic wildlife add four components not previously included in comprehensive reviews. (1) We show reducing activity, has temporarily enhanced quality some species diminished it others. (2) Thoughtful horticulture can contribute to providing complex structures benefit biodiversity while enhancing wellbeing. (3) Recent literature invertebrate grown, though is still focused pollinators. (4) Finally, employing insights from discipline communication enhance success both public.

Language: Английский

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Worse sleep and increased energy expenditure yet no movement changes in sub-urban wild boar experiencing an influx of human visitors (anthropulse) during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 879, P. 163106 - 163106

Published: March 24, 2023

Language: Английский

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Influence of theCOVID‐19 pandemic on amphibian road mortality

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(11)

Published: Sept. 29, 2021

Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic and its related human activity shutdowns provide unique opportunities for biodiversity monitoring through what has been termed the “anthropause” or “great confinement experiment.” caused immense disruption to in northeastern United States spring of 2020, with notable reductions traffic levels. These coincided seasonal migration adult amphibians, which are typically subject intense vehicle‐impact mortality. Using data collected as part an annual community science program Maine from 2018 2021, we examined how amphibian mortality probabilities responded during pandemic. While detected a 50% decline all this was driven entirely by frog Wildlife collision Department Transportation on other wildlife species support our finding drastic declines road 2020 when compared immediately previous subsequent years. Additionally, find that frogs suffer significantly higher than salamanders, particularly conditions warmer wetter.

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 lockdown and natural resources: a global assessment on the challenges, opportunities, and the way forward

Bulletin of the National Research Centre/Bulletin of the National Research Center, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 46(1)

Published: Jan. 29, 2022

Abstract Background The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which has an enormous effect on human lives and the environment. This review aimed to assess scientific evidence impact of COVID-19 lockdown natural resources using international databases search engines. Thus, unprecedented anthropause due positive negative effects resources. Main body showed that events brought physical environment, including pollution associated with drastic increase in person protective equipment, deforestation, illegal poaching logging, overfishing, disruption conservation program projects. It noted spread diseases could be aggravated environmental rapid population. Despite these impacts COVID-19, appear have also several such as short term reduction indoor outdoor pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO 2 , SO CO, CO ), noise pollutions from ships, boats, vehicles, planes aquatic ecosystems, water quality, birds behaviour, wildlife biodiversity, ecosystem restoration. Conclusion Therefore, governments communities across globe called for green recovery implement multi-actor interventions environmentally friendly technologies improve safeguard sustainable biodiversity management halt next pandemic.

Language: Английский

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The impact of the COVID‐19 lockdowns on wildlife–vehicle collisions in the UK

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(6), P. 1244 - 1255

Published: April 18, 2023

Abstract Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) cause millions of vertebrate mortalities globally, threatening population viability and influencing wildlife behaviour survival. Traffic volume speed can influence mortality on roads, but roadkill risk is species specific depends ecological traits. The COVID‐19 pandemic, associated UK‐wide lockdowns, offered a unique opportunity to investigate how reducing traffic alters WVC. These periods reduced human mobility have been coined the ‘anthropause’. We used anthropause identify which traits may render vulnerable did this by comparing relative change in WVC with differing before during anthropause. Generalised Additive Model predictions assess 19 most frequently observed as UK exhibited changes road two lockdown periods, March–May 2020 December 2020–March 2021, same time previous years (2014–2019). Compositional data analysis was number observations compared years. were, across all species, 80% lower than predicted. revealed proportionally fewer reports nocturnal mammals, urban visitors, mammals greater brain mass birds longer flight initiation distance. Species that several these traits, correspondingly significantly predicted included badgers Meles meles , foxes Vulpes vulpes pheasants, Phasianus colchicus ; we posit they stand benefit from traffic, and, studied here, highest under ‘normal’ levels. This study identifies experienced temporary reprieve anthropause, highlights impacts traffic‐induced numbers ultimately trait frequency road‐dominated landscape. By taking advantage reductions understand vehicles survival be exerting selective force for certain

Language: Английский

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High-resolution app data reveal sustained increases in recreational fishing effort in Europe during and after COVID-19 lockdowns

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(7)

Published: July 1, 2023

It is well recognized that COVID-19 lockdowns impacted human interactions with natural ecosystems. One example recreational fishing, which, in developed countries, involves approximately 10% of people. Fishing licence sales and observations at angling locations suggest fishing effort increased substantially during lockdowns. However, the extent duration this increase remain largely unknown. We used four years (2018-2021) high-resolution data from a personal fish-finder device to explore impact on European countries. show relative use 1.2-3.8-fold March-May 2020 generally remained elevated even end 2021. first lockdown also became more frequent weekdays. Statistical models explained 50-70% variation, suggesting were relatively consistent predictable through space time. Our study demonstrates behaviour can change rapidly response societal shifts, profound ecological, well-being economic implications. potential angler devices smartphone applications for analysis encourage extensive science industry collaborations take advantage information.

Language: Английский

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Anthropause Opportunities: Experimental Perturbation of Road Traffic and the Potential Effects on Wildlife

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: March 7, 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic severely reduced many human activities. So pronounced was the change, it has given rise to term “anthropause”: considerable alteration of modern Among these surface transportation, with prolonged traffic reductions, in excess, 50% countries. Roads and are responsible for functionally fragmenting ecosystems, wildlife populations, species interactions. unintentional “dialing-down” continuous monitoring systems wildlife-vehicle conflict a unique opportunity study consequences perturbing this source disturbance mortality. Experimental manipulation at global scale would not have been possible without mitigation responses SARS-CoV-2. Such perturbation allows robust empirical investigation into traffic, including changes mortality, behavior, genetic connectivity, knock-on ecosystem effects, which can be replicated across network systems. We review extent extensive data-collection provide primary data responses, providing raw material understand some striking anthropause.

Language: Английский

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The effect of COVID-19 confinement on the activity behaviour of red deer

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 45, P. e02525 - e02525

Published: May 26, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected people's social habits, especially those related to outdoor activities. We intended understand the effects of two national lockdowns in Portugal on presence and activity a wild population red deer (Cervus elaphus) by analysing data from camera traps installed at Lousã mountain, central part Portugal. cameras were set between 2019 2021, total 2434 individual contacts 182 people recorded. Results showed higher human mountain area during outbreak, first lockdown 2020 (0.05 ± 0.17 individuals/day), compared same period year before (0.02 0.05 which resulted an increase 150%. did not have significant direct effect deer. Despite low overlap patterns deer, avoidance behaviour 24 h after detection traps, as well daily lockdown, showing deer's awareness visitation. These results that increased search for cultural services environments lockdowns, such hiking biking, seemed influence albeit momentarily.

Language: Английский

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The COVID-19 pandemic “anthropause” decreased plastic ingestion in neotropic cormorants Nannopterum brasilianus in Lima, Peru

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e17407 - e17407

Published: May 30, 2024

The anthropause during the recent COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine impact of human activity on seabirds. Lockdowns in Peru prevented people from visiting coastal areas, thereby reducing garbage disposal beaches and movement microplastics into ocean. This cessation activities likely led temporary decrease plastic pollution regions. We aimed investigate this phenomenon inshore-feeding neotropic cormorants (

Language: Английский

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