FAUNA ATROPELADA NAS ESTRADAS DO MUNICÍPIO DE CHAPADÃO DO CÉU (GOIÁS, BRASIL)

Abstract

Run over fauna has received a lot of research’s attention due the environmental problems existing from that. Facing this problem, we roamed the Chapadao do Ceu (Goias, Brazil) roads looking for run over fauna. We roamed 30 km per stretch (60 km per stretch, considering go and back) during four days in each sample season, totalizing 240 km roamed each. We performed three sample seasons (August 2010, March and September 2011) leading to 720 km of sample effort. We registered 63 run over animals, with a 0.0875 animals/km rate. The mammalian class was the most representative group, with 61.9% and 39 run over animals found. The birds were the second more representative group, with 23.81%, followed by reptiles with 14.29%. Euphractussexcintus (Knowed as Tatupeba) was the specie with more run over events. We think that is because of his nocturnal habits and low vision. The study area presents high population of Caracara plancus (a hawk-like bird) and Athenecunicularia (an owl), both are carnivorous. Therefore, even if a Small body animal were hit, soon it will be caught by one of these predators and will not be registered. Because of that, Small bodies’ animals were found with low run over rate. These roads (and any road around the world) are widely used to transport agricultural products and will be for many years. However, these roads must attempt to run over problem observed here, and new roads must invest in compatible structures to assuage this problem, reducing vehicles speed, aerial and underground ways for animals cross and inter-fragment locomotionand investments on run over fauna studies in UC (Conservation Unity) proximately in high environmental impacts stretches.