Dinâmica espaço temporal de atropelamentos de animais silvestres no Litoral Norte da Bahia: causas e proposta de mitigação

Abstract

Among the effects of the road on the ecosystems are the population reduction and the alteration of the composition or the abundance of species. Roads create an adverse environment for vertebrates, reducing dispersal capacity, causing isolation and fragmentation of the environment. The coast of Bahia has been presented as a space for such changes, which requires specific monitoring. The objective of this study was to monitor roadkills of fauna in an area on the north coast of Bahia, which cuts different natural habitats. It was developed on the BA-099 highway, between Mata de São João (Praia do Forte) and Jandaíra from March 2016 to March 2017, with weekly samplings, which totaled 50 field trips in the morning and afternoon shifts. They were made with vehicle at low speed, with driver and observer and by means of walks. The monitoring of the trampled fauna cataloged 83 directly impacted species and an accumulated of 749 individuals. The classes with the highest number of species (richness) recorded were Birds n = 37,; And Reptilia, n = 22, followed by Mammalia (n = 16) and Amphibia (n = 8). The highest absolute abundance was of Amphibia, 472 individuals (63.1%), having the lowest wealth. The second most roadkills class was Mammalia (n = 109, 14.6%). In conclusion, it was possible to map the critical sections of hotspots, allowing the generation of data to support actions to protect biodiversity, including mitigation measures in situ, such as the installation of wildlife passages. Consequently, it will contribute to the protection of species in the region, related to the specific impact of trampling, which may be associated with research on the subject and encouraging the expansion of measures in other highways in the state.