Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD ECOLOGY Mårten Karlson Tyréns AB

Eng UK © TYRÉNS What is ecology? 1.What is biodiversity? 1.What is road ecology? 1.Road effects on the environment 1.The road effect zone 2.Fragmentation 3.Loss of habitat and new habitat 4.Barrier effects and connectivity 5.Road mortality (animals) 2.Road planning (in Sweden) 3.Road ecology in practice CONTENTS 2

Eng UK © TYRÉNS Energy flows within food webs 1.Bild sol energy mm.. 2.Interactions between “life” and “non-life” 3.The environment viewed as “components”, “rules”, “system output” 4.We study “life” systems, or life supporting systems. ECOLOGY – STUDY OF ECOSYSTEMS 3 Between 5-20% energy becomes ingested from one level to the next

Eng UK © TYRÉNS Ecosystems are systems. Systems that produce life.  Systems are made up of components – different species  Components carry out (system)tasks – grazing, nitrogen fixation, predation, pollination etc…  If components fail, system malfunctions – ecosystems “re- organize”  Redundancy of components secures (system)functionality  = BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY – OUR INSURANCE 4

Eng UK © TYRÉNS Area of “habitat” 2.Level of (genetic)isolation  Small isolated = bad  Large connected =good WHAT MATTERS FOR BIODIVERSITY Habitat amount Species diversity and abundance 5

Eng UK © TYRÉNS The specific study of how roads change ecological processes 1.Theory and findings relevant to many forms of linear constructions ROAD EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT New landscape element Barrier effects Change of hydrological processes Land use change Construction Habitat loss and fragmentation New habitat Utilization and management Road mortalityDisturbance Chemical contamination Exotic species 6

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD EFFECT ZONE 1.Distance perpendicular to road within which significantly distinguished observations can be made. 1.Species composition, richness abundance… 2.Concentration of contaminants… 3.Temperature, noise, vibrations.. 4.Erosion, sedimentation transport, hydrological flows… 5.Etc…

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 FRAGMENTATION 1.Fragmentation of habitat = subdivision: 1 patch of habitat becomes 2 smaller patches. -Edge effects -Redistribution of habitat patch quality 8

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 LOSS OF HABITAT, NEW HABITAT 1.Habitat is removed/lost 1.Negative for non-adaptive species 2.New habitat is created 1.Carrion feeders, rare plant species, 2.invasive species 9

Eng UK © TYRÉNS Habitat connectivity presumes a connection between habitat area. I.Structural connectivity presumes a physical connection between 2 points. II.Functional connectivity presumes that 2 points are reachable for a given species. BARRIER EFFECTS AND CONNECTIVITY 10

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 BARRIER EFFECTS AND CONNECTIVITY 1.Barriers increase isolation  Reduced genetic exchange  Increased inbreeding and stochastic vulnerability  Increased risk for extinction 11

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 BARRIER EFFECTS AND CONNECTIVITY 12 CategoryADT* RoadsADT* Railways Barrier effectMitigation 0 < 1000 v/d**-None v/d<120 v/dMinor Prevent wvc***/accidents v/d v/dStrong Wildlife crossing structures and preventive actions 3 >10000 v/d>400 v/dAbsolute Several crossing structures, fencing *Average Daily Traffic, **vehicles/day, ***wildlife vehicle collisions

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD MORTALITY 1.Generally no population level effects 2.Local extinctions 3.Loss of genetic diversity 4.Fatal human/wildlife accidents 13

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD ECOLOGY IN PRACTICE What we do: 1.Desktop studies 1.Nature reserve management plans 2.Spatial data, webb GIS, protected areas 2.Analysis and calculations 1.(Potential) Species distribution, network analysis, wildlife accidents 3.Fieldwork 1.Inventory, data collection, mapping, measurements.. 14

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD ECOLOGY IN PRACTICE - EXAMPLES Focal species 1.One species represent several others  Save 1 get a 1000 on the fly… 15

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD ECOLOGY IN PRACTICE - EXAMPLES Indices for ecological integrity Amount and connectivity  Total area  Might support X no of…  (area weighted) mean patch size  Compare with species demands…  Mean distance between patches Quality  Age and diversity  Shape and fragmentation  Area/perimeter ratio 16

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD ECOLOGY IN PRACTICE - EXAMPLES Spatial ecological models Betweenness Centrality (Ecologically adapted, Bodin and Saura 2010) nm*= all possible combinations of patch i and j. 17

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD PLANNING, SWEDEN No further investigations Localization study Road plan Trial No road Act of implementation Construction NO YES Alternative solutions? Strategic planning Pre-study Overall status of the environment Political objectives Accessibility Capacity safety Minimize environmental impact Barrier effects Fragmentation Valuable and protected areas Wildlife crossing structures Protected species Impact assessment Mitigation Design Etc.. Environmental monitoring, control.. Support in the field, monitoring 18

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD PLANNING, SWEDEN No further investigations Localization study (corridors) Road plan (road path) Trial No road Act of implementation Construction NO YES Alternative solutions? Strategic planning Pre-study Traffic flow modelling, forecasting studies Political objectives Accessibility Capacity safety Connecting to existing infrastructure Dimensions, curvature, radius.. Technical constraints.. Improve forecasting… 19

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 ROAD PLANNING, SWEDEN Traffic flow modelling, forecasting studies Where? Connecting to existing infrastructure Dimensions, curvature, radius.. Technical constraints.. Environmental conditions No go areas Presence of protected species Environmental law.. Wildlife corridors..etc Alternative solutions Localization 20

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 TALK TO THE ECOLOGIST! 1.Often, road planning goes fast!  Traffic modellers need a “line” to work with potential corridors  Corridors and “lines” should adapt to the landscape and the environment 21

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 TALK TO THE ECOLOGIST! 1.Topography is of key importance Strong barrier effects Less barrier effects 22

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 TALK TO THE ECOLOGIST! 1.Always better to repair and improve existing roads (and cheaper…) ”lost” habitat.. Degraded Too small Too isolated 23

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 TALK TO THE ECOLOGIST! 1.Always minimize habitat loss… ”lost” habitat.. Degraded Too small Too isolated 24

Eng UK © TYRÉNS 2016 THANK YOU! 25