Methodology of Wildlife Underpasses Attractiveness Assessment

Abstract

The permeability of line barriers in the landscape is often a prerequisite for the survival of the wide spectrum of native species. The aim of this study is to create a methodology for assessing the attractiveness of wildlife underpasses used by animals during migrations, translocations or as a habitat. Understanding the relationship between the parameters of underpasses in the broader landscape-ecological context and their attractiveness for animals is a key aspect in spatial planning and the construction of new linear transport structures, which will significantly help mitigate the barrier effect and isolation of animal populations. The attractiveness assessment is based on the evaluation of the underpass individual parameters and its surroundings through the 8 sub-indexes (openness, substrate, anthropogenic, vegetation, landscape structure elements, ecological networks, potential and real migration/habitat).

Keywords

• methodology
• landscape
• barrier effect
• linear transport structures
• attractivity index