Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Richard J. Kline

Second Advisor

Dr. Christopher Gabler

Third Advisor

Dr. John Young Jr.

Abstract

Wildlife mortality due to vehicle collisions is detrimental to species with slower reproduction times, habitat specialists, low density populations, species with large home ranges, or rare species. Vehicle-caused wildlife mortality is an important conservation issue, but before we can ameliorate the effects of road mortalities, we must understand what why it is happening. Wildlife road mortality surveys may be conducted in several ways based on the target species, time available, finances, and safety. Survey methodologies include using accident reports by police and warden agencies, pedestrian road surveys, using citizen scientists, and driving surveys. These methods present a safety risk to the surveyor and or may result in erroneous identifications in the case of citizen scientists. Over the course of this study a safer, novel action camera-based methodology was developed. This study determined the optimal survey frequency, based on wildlife mortality data and calculations of persistence rates.

Comments

Copyright 2019 Trinity Livingston. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/wildlife-road-mortalty-survey-methodologies/docview/2326989337/se-2?accountid=7119

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