Analysis of Water Deer Roadkills Using Point Process Modeling in Chungcheongnamdo, South Korea

Woongsoon Jang,Ok-Sik Chung,Bongkyun Kim,Jong Koo Lee

doi:10.3390/f13020209

Woongsoon Jang, Ok-Sik Chung + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/f13020209

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Abstract

The expansion of road networks and increased traffic loads have resulted in an increase in the problem of wildlife roadkill, which has a serious impact on both human safety and the wildlife population. However, roadkill data are collected primarily from the incidental sighting, thus they often lack the true-absence information. This study aims to identify the factors associated with Korean water deer (Hydropotes inermis) roadkill in Korea using the point processing modeling (PPM) approach. Water deer roadkill point data were fitted with explanatory variables derived from forest cover type, topography, and human demography maps and an animal distribution survey. Water deer roadkill showed positive associations with road density, human population density, road width, and water deer detection point density. Slope and elevation showed negative associations with roadkill. The traffic volume and adjacent water deer population may be the major driving factors in roadkill events. The results also imply that the PPM can be a flexible tool for developing roadkill mitigation strategy, providing analytical advantages of roadkill data, such as clarification of model specification and interpretation, while avoiding issues derived from a lack of true-absence information.

Highlights

Over time, the expansion of road networks and following traffic loads have exerted various impacts on wildlife habitat, behaviour, and population dynamics [1]
A distinctly higher human population and road density were observed for the water deer roadkill points
The results of our study of water deer were consistent with results from published research findings showing that the configurations of the road network and traffic load are the key factors affecting roadkill occurrences [6]

Summary

Introduction

The expansion of road networks and following traffic loads have exerted various impacts on wildlife habitat, behaviour, and population dynamics [1]. They include habitat loss and degradation, impeding habitat recolonization [2], reduction of landscape connectivity, subsequent disturbing behaviours (e.g., road avoidance, effects of car traffic on bird bleeding [3]), and direct mortality from collisions of vehicles (i.e., roadkill) while crossing the fragmented habitats [4]. Roadkill ( commonly referred to as wildlife–vehicle collision or animal–vehicle collision) plays a major role in the mortality of wildlife by humans [5], and poses a critical issue regarding the safety of humans by animals [6]. Roadkill of wildlife became a major socio-economic issue, and considerable research efforts for mitigation of risks have been conducted in recent decades [8]

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