Our work can be applied anywhere there are roads
Benjamin Brunen
How does this specific image (above) relate to your research at Concordia?
This is an image from a trail camera I have set up in a drainage culvert in my study area. We're trying to determine how many animals of each species use these structures to successfully cross under, rather than over, the highway.
We also want to know how effective these structures are for small to medium-sized mammals. To achieve those two goals, we'll set up track boxes to collect animal footprints outside the drainage culverts and compare the imprints with those found inside. Together with the trail camera footage, we’ll create a performance index for each drainage culvert, showing how many animals that come to the area use it to get to the other side of the highway.
We're then going to compare areas of the highway that are within and outside the ecological corridors to determine if animals are more active along the corridors.
What is the hoped-for result of your project? And what impact could you see it having on people's lives?
I hope to be able to demonstrate that there is a relationship between animal activity in crossing structures — as well as through roadkill on the road surface — and the presence of ecological corridors. This could generate recommendations for decision-makers, and provide animals with a better chance at getting to their habitat on the other side of the road.
Fences may be needed to guide the animals towards the crossing structures and to prevent them from moving onto the road surface. This would also increase traffic safety.
What are some of the major challenges you face in your research? What are some of the key areas where your work could be applied?
One of the biggest challenges is that people tend to not take small and medium-sized mammals seriously when considering the impact that roads have on these animals’ movement patterns and population viability.
This is mostly because, when compared to a moose, hitting a weasel with your car isn't going to cause you many problems as a motorist. Accordingly, there isn't as much concern about driver safety when thinking about the small mammals.
Our work can be applied anywhere there are roads, so pretty much anywhere on the planet! Many new roads are being constructed worldwide right now, so this kind of research will be even more important in the future if we want to be serious about preventing accelerated biodiversity loss.