Understanding the Influence of Traffic and Noise on the Wildlife Community Surrounding FM106 and SH100 in South Texas

Author

Anna Rose Mehner, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Richard Kline

Second Advisor

John H. Young Jr.

Third Advisor

Karl Berg

Abstract

In South Texas, highways create landscape fragmentation, habitat degradation, and result in wildlife vehicle collisions. Vehicle collisions are the highest known cause of mortality of the endangered ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), which led Texas Department of Transportation to install nine wildlife crossing structures (WCS) on Farm-to-Market 106 and five on State Highway 100. These highways are along Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, which is the location of the southernmost breeding population of ocelots in the United States. Many other wildlife species including bobcat (Lynx rufus) and coyote (Canis latrans), are present along these highways and utilize the WCS. This study will analyze camera trap data from the WCS, traffic level data, and noise level data to investigate how traffic and noise levels influence wildlife use of the WCS and vigilance behavior at the WCS. Additionally, traffic and noise levels will be compared between the highways to begin to establish a road effect zone of these highways. This analysis will show if anthropogenic variables are influencing wildlife behavior at the WCS, along with providing noise level data around these highways, which previously has not been documented.

Comments

Copyright 2024 Anna Mehner. https://proquest.com/docview/3153403018

Recommended Citation

Mehner, Anna Rose, "Understanding the Influence of Traffic and Noise on the Wildlife Community Surrounding FM106 and SH100 in South Texas" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1623.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1623