Fatores socioambientais indutores de atropelamento da fauna silvestre.

Abstract

Linear undertakings such as highways and railways guarantee the subsistence and maintenance of social organization models. In this way they determine the anthropogenic use of natural landscapes. Despite the economic and ecological benefits of these ventures, they also bring environmental and economic impacts. The roadkill of wildlife in particular is one of the most direct impacts of highway operation, causing significant damage to the biodiversity and health of road users. This impact can be perceived on federal highway BR 122, where this research will be carried out. The dual-lane road connects the municipalities of Quixadá to Fortaleza and the focal stretch goes from km1 (Quixadá) to km 40 (Ibaretama). Thus, the objective of the present study was to verify the spatial and seasonal factors that most influence vehicle collisions with wildlife vertebrates on a two-way road in a semi-arid region. Specific objectives are: (a) to assess which spatial factors most strongly influence wildlife collisions; (b) assess which seasonal factors most strongly influence wildlife collisions; and (c) to analyze whether spatial and seasonal factors interfere differently over the various vertebrate groups. For this purpose, 12 campaigns lasting three days by car and on foot were carried out over a period of one year, with vertebrates being hit in the focal area. A total of 600 individuals from 73 species were found to have been run over during the 12 months of the campaign. Of this total, 95% were representatives of the wild fauna, with the highest rate of collisions, amphibians followed by birds, reptiles and mammals. In the semi-arid region, the area around the highway with more fragmented vegetation cover favors the increase of collisions, mainly in relation to the species with low displacement capacity. Seasonality had greater explanatory power in the mortality of species of the group of amphibians and reptiles. The points of aggregation of these vehicles collisions were related to the more fragmented areas.