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Impacts of Landscape Transformation by Roads

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Book cover Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation

Abstract

The transformation of landscapes by roads has spread rapidly with little consideration of the ecological consequences. Between 1986 and 1994, the number of vehicles increased 18%, to over 6 billion world-wide (United Nations 1997). In this chapter, we outline the ecological impacts of roads on biological conservation, from a landscape ecology perspective. In Section 13.2 we outline the relevant landscape ecological concepts, in Section 13.3 we review measures to compensate for negative impacts of roads on wildlife, and in Section 13.4 we outline principles for successful mitigation of landscape-level road effects. Finally, in Sections 13.5 and 13.6, we discuss existing knowledge gaps and suggest research approaches for filling these gaps.

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Authors
  1. Laurie W. Carr
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  2. Lenore Fahrig
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  3. Shealagh E. Pope
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Baylor University, P.O. Box 97388, Waco, TX, 76798-7388, USA

    Kevin J. Gutzwiller

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Carr, L.W., Fahrig, L., Pope, S.E. (2002). Impacts of Landscape Transformation by Roads. In: Gutzwiller, K.J. (eds) Applying Landscape Ecology in Biological Conservation. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0059-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-0059-5_13

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  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95322-9

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