The Herpetological Journal
The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
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pdf 03. Road mortality of the herpetofauna in a Cerrado ecosystem, central Brazil
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Open Access
pp. 141-148
Authors: Souza, Adriano M.; Pires, Renan C.; Borges, Vitor S. & Eterovick, Paula C.
Abstract: Roads have many detrimental effects on natural habitats and their fauna, ranging from altered microclimate to road kills. Animals which move slowly or are attracted to the road surface are particularly threatened. We studied herpetofauna road mortality in a Cerrado ecosystem in central Brazil. We sampled 51 km of state roads during 26 days distributed between dry and wet seasons in 2010 and recorded 109 dead individuals of 34 species of amphibians and reptiles. Including animals found alive on the road, we recorded 159 individuals across 39 species (estimated richness: 48). This number represents about 50% of the herpetofauna species richness expected to occur in a Cerrado site in central Brazil based on a concomitant species inventory. Our study indicates that roads can cause high mortality rates for the Cerrado herpetofauna. We consider that this problem requires urgent attention since economic growth is largely based on agriculture in the Cerrado and construction of more roads is planned to improve harvest transport.
Keywords: REPTILES, WILDLIFE ROAD USE, WILDLIFE ROAD MORTALITY, AMPHIBIANS
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Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.
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