Road avoidance and its energetic consequences for reptiles

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dc.contributor.authorPaterson, James E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBaxter‐Gilbert, Jamesen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBeaudry, Fredericen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCarstairs, Sueen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorChow‐Fraser, Patriciaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorEdge, Christopher B.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLentini, Andrew M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLitzgus, Jacqueline D.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMarkle, Chantel E.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMcKeown, Kassieen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMoore, Jennifer A.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRefsnider, Jeanine M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRiley, Julia L.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRouse, Jeremy D.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSeburn, David C.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorZimmerling, J. Ryanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDavy, Christina M.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2021-08-13T13:29:37Z
dc.date.available2021-08-13T13:29:37Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.descriptionCITATION: Paterson, J. E., et al. 2019. Road avoidance and its energetic consequences for reptiles. Ecology and Evolution, 9(17):9794-9803, doi:10.1002/ece3.5515.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com
dc.description.abstractRoads are one of the most widespread human-caused habitat modifications that can increase wildlife mortality rates and alter behavior. Roads can act as barriers with variable permeability to movement and can increase distances wildlife travel to access habitats. Movement is energetically costly, and avoidance of roads could therefore impact an animal's energy budget. We tested whether reptiles avoid roads or road crossings and explored whether the energetic consequences of road avoidance decreased individual fitness. Using telemetry data from Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii; 11,658 locations of 286 turtles from 15 sites) and eastern massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus; 1,868 locations of 49 snakes from 3 sites), we compared frequency of observed road crossings and use of road-adjacent habitat by reptiles to expected frequencies based on simulated correlated random walks. Turtles and snakes did not avoid habitats near roads, but both species avoided road crossings. Compared with simulations, turtles made fewer crossings of paved roads with low speed limits and more crossings of paved roads with high speed limits. Snakes made fewer crossings of all road types than expected based on simulated paths. Turtles traveled longer daily distances when their home range contained roads, but the predicted energetic cost was negligible: substantially less than the cost of producing one egg. Snakes with roads in their home range did not travel further per day than snakes without roads in their home range. We found that turtles and snakes avoided crossing roads, but road avoidance is unlikely to impact fitness through energetic expenditures. Therefore, mortality from vehicle strikes remains the most significant impact of roads on reptile populations.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.5515
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent10 pages : illustrations (some color)en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPaterson, J. E., et al. 2019. Road avoidance and its energetic consequences for reptiles. Ecology and Evolution, 9(17):9794-9803, doi:10.1002/ece3.5515
dc.identifier.issn2045-7758 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1002/ece3.5515
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/110849
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherWiley Open Access
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectRoaden_ZA
dc.subjectBlanding's turtle -- Habitat -- Conservationen_ZA
dc.subjectEndangered speciesen_ZA
dc.subjectEastern massasaugaen_ZA
dc.subjectReptiles -- Behavioren_ZA
dc.titleRoad avoidance and its energetic consequences for reptilesen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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