Citizen Science Projekt Roadkill
- Boden und Landökosysteme
- Wasser - Atmosphäre - Umwelt
- Lebensraum und Landschaft
Abstract
In this project we investigate, which animals are killed on roads and which factors are influencing roadkills. What does roadkill mean? Roadkills are all animals killed on roads. In most countries, official data on roadkills are only available for huntable wildlife. In the year 2012, amongst others 24852 European hare, 36865 Roe deer, 1414 European badgers were killed on roads in Austria. However, there are no data available on the effects of roads on non-huntable wildlife or red list species such as European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) or European green toad (Bufo viridis). Why is roadkill important? Habitat fragmentation by roads has a severe impact on many animal species, particularly for those with high mobility or seasonal migration behaviour, such as mammals or amphibians. As a consequence, roadkill is one of the main reasons for the decrease of populations of several animal groups. Animals cross roads when foraging, in mating season (like deer, which cover long distances in search for a mating partner in autumn) or changing from winter to summer habitat (like amphibians). Species which migrate over long distances are especially affected by roadkill. Humans are also affected by roadkill. For drivers animals on roads are a great danger and most people are stressed because of the ethical burden when killing an animal. Not only accidents with big animals like deer or wild boar are causing damages to persons and/or property, also small animals like hedgehogs or toads can lead to damage because of evasion or breaking maneuvers. Aims Our aim is to minimize the number of roadkills as much as possible by finding the influencing factors. The first step is getting an overview of the numbers and distribution of roadkills. The use of citizen science makes it possible to investigate large areas and determine when (weather, season, ...), where (forest, urban area, field, ...) and on which streettype, what kind of animal species is killed. The second step is to identify roadkill hotspots and mitigate those hotspots in cooperation with local authorities and NGOs. With the project Roadkill, we want to sensitize participants to roadkill and habitat fragmentation and to include the public's expertise in when and where roadkills happen.
- citizen science
- citizen science
- road traffic
- habitat fragmentation
Project staff
Florian Heigl
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Florian Heigl Bakk.techn.
florian.heigl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83320
Project Leader
28.11.2018 - 31.12.2030
Sub Projectleader
01.03.2013 - 27.11.2018
Johann Zaller
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Johann Zaller
johann.zaller@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-83318
Project Leader
01.03.2013 - 27.11.2018
BOKU partners
