Sains Malaysiana 49(10)(2020): 2373-2382

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4910-04

 

Herpetofauna Roadkills on Langkawi Island, Peninsular Malaysia: The Influence of Landscape and Season on Mortality Distribution

(Korban Jalan Raya Herpetofauna di Pulau Langkawi, Semenanjung Malaysia: Pengaruh Landskap dan Musim pada Taburan Kematian)

 

NORSHAQINAH AYOB1, MUZNEENA AHMAD MUSTAPHA2, JULIANA SENAWI1 & NORHAYATI AHMAD1,3*

 

1School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

2Centre for Earth Science & Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

3Langkawi Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 2 November 2019/Diterima: 15 April 2020

 

ABSTRACT

We examined the spatiotemporal variation of herpetofauna roadkills on roadways in Langkawi Island. A total of 131 roadkills were recorded. The species that exhibited greater mortality was Varanus nebulosus (n=72). There was a significant difference in herpetofauna mortality between dry and wet seasons (t(11) =-2.330, p=0.04, <0.05). The spatial pattern was described by using kernel density estimation. Four collision hotspots were concentrated at the west side of the island, adjacent to vegetation area and forest reserve. Species characteristics, road proximity to the forested area, vegetation cover and traffic volume may influence the high rate of roadkills found. Installation of warning signs, speed restrictions and temporary road closings could reduce traffic accident and significantly reduce mortalities. The study represents a significant improvement over previous research on the island by implementing hotspot analysis. We would suggest analysing habitat suitability and connectivity to increase the ability to predict the location of roadkill hotspots.

 

Keywords: Hot spot; kernel density; road mortality; spatio-temporal; tropical island

 

ABSTRAK

Kami mengkaji variasi reruang dan temporal korban jalan raya haiwan herpetofauna di Pulau Langkawi. Sejumlah 131 korban jalan raya dicatatkan sepanjang pemerhatian dijalankan. Spesies yang menunjukkan kematian yang paling tinggi ialah Varanus nebulosus (n = 72). Terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam kematian herpetofauna antara musim kering dan lembap (t (11) = -2.330, p = 0.04, <0.05). Corak reruang dikaji dengan menggunakan anggaran ketumpatan kernel. Empat kawasan titik panas korban jalan raya tertumpu di sebelah barat pulau, berhampiran dengan kawasan vegetasi dan hutan simpan. Ciri sejarah kehidupan haiwan, jarak jalan ke kawasan hutan, kawasan tumbuhan dan kepadatan lalu lintas mungkin mempengaruhi kadar korban jalan raya yang tinggi yang dijumpai. Pemasangan tanda-tanda amaran, sekatan kelajuan dan penutupan jalan sementara boleh mengurangkan gangguan trafik dan mengurangkan kemalangan trafik melibatkan hidupan liar. Kajian ini menunjukkan peningkatan yang signifikan terhadap penyelidikan terdahulu di Pulau Langkawi dengan pelaksanaan analisis kawasan panas. Kami mencadangkan analisis kesesuaian dan kesambungan habitat dijalankan untuk meningkatkan keberkesanan untuk meramalkan lokasi titik panas korban jalan raya.

 

Kata kunci: Ketumpatan kernel; korban jalan raya; pulau tropika; reruang dan temporal; titik panas

RUJUKAN

Abdullah, N., Vikineswary, S., Yusoff, M. & Desjardin, D.E. 2005. Higher fungi of Northeast Langkawi. Malaysian Journal of Science 24: 95-102.

Andrews, A. 1990. Fragmentation of habitat by roads and utility corridors: A review. Australian Zoologist 26(3-4): 130-141. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(92)90726-4.

Andrews, K.M., Gibbons, J.W. & Jochimsen, D.M. 2006. Literature Synthesis of the Effects of Roads and Vehicles on Amphibians and Reptiles. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of Transportation, Report No. FHWA-HEP-08-005. Washington, D.C. p. 151.

Arevalo, J.E., Honda, W., Arce-Arias, A. & Häger, A. 2017. Spatio-temporal variation of roadkills show mass mortality events for amphibians in a highly trafficked road adjacent to a national park, Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical 65(4): 1261. doi:10.15517/rbt.v65i4.27903.

Ascensao, F., LaPoint, S. & van der Ree, R. 2015. Roads and traffic: Big problems for small mammals. Handbook of Road Ecology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 325-333.

Ashley, E.P. & Robinson, J.T. 1996. Road mortality on the Long Point Causeway. The Canadian Field Naturalist 110(3): 403-412.

Bailey, T.C. & Gatrell, A.C. 1995. Interactive Spatial Data Analysis. Vol. 413. Essex: Longman Scientific & Technical.

Barthelmess, E.L. & Brooks, M.S. 2010. The influence of body-size and diet on road-kill trends in mammals. Biodiversity and Conservation 19(6): 1611-1629. doi:10.1007/s10531-010-9791-3.

Baxter-Gilbert, J.H., Riley, J.L., Lesbarrères, D. & Litzgus, J.D. 2015. Mitigating reptile road mortality: Fence failures compromise ecopassage effectiveness. PLoS ONE 10(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120537.

Berry, P.Y. 1964. The breeding patterns of seven species of Singapore Anura. Journal of Animal Ecology 33(2): 227-243. doi:10.2307/2629.

Borner, M. & Severre, E.L.M. 1986. Rhino and elephant poaching trends in the Selous Game Reserve. Pachyderm 6(December): 3-4. http://iucn.org/afesg/pachy/pachy06.html. Accessed on 2 December 2018.

Brown, G.P. & Shine, R. 2002. Influence of weather conditions on activity of tropical snakes. Austral Ecology 27(6): 596-605. doi:10.1046/j.1442-9993.2002.01218.x.

Caro, T.M., Shargel, J.A. & Stoner, C.J. 2000. Frequency of medium-sized mammal road kills in an agricultural landscape in California. The American Midland Naturalist 144(2): 362-369.

Carr, L.W. & Fahrig, L. 2001. Effect of road traffic on two amphibian species of differing vagility. Conservation Biology 15(4): 1071-1078. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.0150041071.x.

Clements, G.R., Lynam, A.J., Gaveau, D., Yap, W.L., Lhota, S., Goosem, M., Laurance, S. & Laurance, W.F. 2014. Where and how are roads endangering mammals in Southeast Asia’s forests? PLoS ONE9(12): e115376. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0115376.

Clevenger, A.P., Chruszsz, B. & Gunson, K.E. 2003. Spatial patterns and factors influencing small vetebrate fauna road-kill agregations. Biodiversity Conservation 109(1): 15-26.

Coelho, I.P., Kindel, A. & Coelho, A.V.P. 2008. Roadkills of vertebrate species on two highways through the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, southern Brazil. European Journal of Wildlife Research 54(4): 689-699. doi:10.1007/s10344-008-0197-4.

Cook, T.C. & Blumstein, D.T. 2013. The omnivore’s dilemma: Diet explains variation in vulnerability to vehicle collision mortality. Biological Conservation 167: 310-315. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2013.08.016.

da Rosa, C.A. & Bager, A. 2012. Seasonality and habitat types affect roadkill of neotropical birds. Journal of Environmental Management 97(1): 1-5. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.11.004.

Das, I. 2015. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Debinski, D.M. & Holt, R.D. 2000. A survey and overview of habitat fragmentation experiments. Conservation Biology 14(2): 342-355. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.98081.x.

DeWoody, J.A., Nogle, J.M., Hoover, M. & Dunning, B. 2010. Monitoring and Predicting Traffic Induced Vertebrate Mortality Near Wetlands. Indiana, United States: Purdue University. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2604&context=jtrp

DiMauro, D. & Hunter Jr., M.L. 2002. Reproduction of amphibians in natural and anthropogenic temporary pools in managed forests. Forest Science 48(2): 397-406.

Dodds, W.K. 2002. Freshwater Ecology: Concepts and Environmental Applications. Kansas: Elsevier.

Elzanowski, A., Ciesiołkiewicz, J., Kaczor, M., Radwańska, J. & Urban, R. 2009. Amphibian road mortality in Europe: A meta-analysis with new data from Poland. European Journal of Wildlife Research 55(1): 33-43. doi:10.1007/s10344-008-0211-x.

Fahrig, L., Pedlar, J.H., Pope, S.E., Taylor, P.D. & Wegner, J.F. 1995. Effect of road traffic on amphibian density. Biological Conservation 73: 177-182.

Farmer, R.G. & Brooks, R.J. 2012. Integrated risk factors for vertebrate roadkill in southern Ontario. Journal of Wildlife Management 76(6): 1215-1224. doi:10.1002/jwmg.358.

Forman, R.T.T., Sperling, D., Bissonette, J.A., Clevenger, A.P., Cutshall, C.D., Dale, V.H., Fahrig, L., France, R., Goldman, C.R., Heanue, K., Jones, J.A., Swanson, F.J.,  Turrentine, T. & Winter, T.C. 2003. Road Ecology; Science and Solutions. Washington: Island Press.

Franklin, A.B., Noon, B.R. & George, T.L. 2002. What is habitat fragmentation? Studies in Avian Biology 25(25): 20-29.

http://apps.isiknowledge.com/full_record.do?product=UA&search_mode=GeneralSearch&qid=12&SID=V2fOhdm5o53nb6o2FL1&page=2&doc=18&colname=WOS.

Galoyan, E., Vassilieva, A.B. & Poyarkov, N. 2017. Seasonal activity of terrestrial amphibians in the monsoon lowland forest of southern Vietnam. Herpetological Journal 27(2): 189-199.

Garriga, N., Santos, X., Montori, A., Richter-Boix, A., Franch, M. & Lorente, G.A. 2012. Are protected areas truly protected ? The impact of road traffic on vertebrate fauna. Biodiversity Conservation 21: 2761-2774. doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0332-0.

Gaulke, M. 1991. On the diet of the water monitor, Varanus salvator, in the Philippines. Mertensiella 2: 143-153.

Gibson, J. & Rozelle, S. 2003. Poverty and Access to Infrastructure in Papua New Guinea.  Economic Development and Cultural Change 52(1): 159-185. doi:10.1086/380424.

Glista, D.J., DeVault, T.L. & DeWoody, J.A. 2008. Vertebrate road mortality predominantly impacts amphibians. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 3(1): 77-87.

Gomes, L., Grilo, C., Silva, C. & Mira, A. 2009. Identification methods and deterministic factors of owl roadkill hotspot locations in Mediterranean landscapes. Ecological Research 24(2): 355-370.

Grismer, L.L. & Norhayati, A. 2008. A new insular species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Langkawi Archipelago, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. Zootaxa1924: 53-68.

Haines, A.M., Elledge, D., Wilsing, L.K., Grabe, M., Barske, M.D., Burke, N. & Webb, S.L. 2012. Spatially explicit analysis of poaching activity as a conservation management tool. Wildlife Society Bulletin 36(4): 685-692. doi:10.1002/wsb.194.

Hart, T. & Zandbergen, P. 2014. Kernel density estimation and hotspot mapping: Examining the influence of interpolation method, grid cell size, and bandwidth on crime forecasting. Policing 37(2): 305-323. doi:10.1108/PIJPSM-04-2013-0039.

Hartel, T., Moga, C.I., Öllerer, K. & Puky, M. 2009. Spatial and temporal distribution of amphibian road mortality with a Rana dalmatina and Bufo bufo predominance along the middle section of the târnava mare basin, Romania. North-Western Journal of Zoology 5(1): 130-141.

Hashimoto, S., Yoshiki, S., Saeki, R., Mimura, Y., Ando, R. & Nanba, S. 2016. Development and application of traffic accident density estimation models using kernel density estimation. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition) 3(3): 262-270. doi:10.1016/j.jtte.2016.01.005.

Hernandez, M. 1988. Road mortality of the little owl (Athene noctua) in Spain. Journal of Raptor Research 22(3): 81-84.

Hodson, N.L. 1962. Some notes on the causes of bird road casualties. Bird Study 9(3): 168-173. doi:10.1080/00063656209476024.

Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia. 2018. Fenomena Cuaca. http://www.met.gov.my/pendidikan/cuaca/fenomenacuaca. Accessed on 10 November 2018.

Jacoby, H.G. 2015. Access to markets and the benefits of rural roads. Royal Economic Society 110(465): 713-737.

Jenks, G.F. & Caspall, F.C. 1971. Error on chlorophletic maps: Definition, measurement and reduction. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 61(2): 217-244.

Jochimsen, D.M. 2005. Factors influencing the road mortality of snakes on the Upper Snake River Plain, Idaho. In Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation, edited by Irwin, Garrett, & McDermott, North Carolina State University: Raleigh, Center for Transportation and the Environment. pp. 351-365.

Jones, M.E. 2000. Road upgrade, road mortality and remedial measures: Impacts on a population of eastern quolls and Tasmanian devils. Wildlife Research 27: 289-296. doi:doi.org/10.1071/WR98069.

Karunarathna, D.M.S.S., Henkanaththegedara, S.M., Amarasinghe, A.A.T. & de Silva, A. 2013. Impact of vehicular traffic on herpetofaunal mortality in a Savanna Forest, Eastern Sri Lanka. Taprobanica 5(2): 111-119. doi:10.4038/tapro.v5i2.6284.

Kioko, J., Kiffner, C., Jenkins, N. & Collinson, W.J. 2015. Wildlife roadkill patterns on a major highway in northern Tanzania. African Zoology 50(1): 17-22.

Krisp, J.M. & Durot, S. 2007. Segmentation of lines based on point densities - An optimisation of wildlife warning sign placement in Southern Finland. Accident Analysis and Prevention 39(1): 38-46. doi:10.1016/j.aap.2006.06.002.

Langen, T.A., Ogden, K.M. & Schwarting, L.L. 2009. Predicting hot spots of herpetofauna road mortality along highway networks. Journal of Wildlife Management 73(1): 104-114. doi:10.2193/2008-017.

Langton, A.E.S. 2002. Measures to protect amphibians and reptiles from road traffic. In Wildlife and Roads: The Ecological Impact, edited by Sherwood, B., Cutler, D. & Burton, J.A.  London: Imperial College Press. pp. 223-248.

Laurance, W.F., Peletier-Jellema, A., Geenen, B., Koster, H., Verweij, P., Van Dijck, P., Lovejoy, T.E., Schleicher, J. & Van Kuijk, M. 2015. Reducing the global environmental impacts of rapid infrastructure expansion. Current Biology 25(7): R259-R262. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.02.050.

MacKinnon, C.A., Moore, L.A. & Brooks, R.J. 2005. Why did the reptile cross the road? Landscape factors associated with road mortality of snakes and turtles in the south eastern Georgian Bay area. Parks Research Forum of Ontario. 2005 PRFO Proceedings (December). pp. 153-166.

Magrath, W., Grandalski, R., Stuckey, G., Vikanes, G. & Wilkinson, G. 2007. Timber Theft Prevention: Introduction to Security for Forest Managers. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/258371468246330490/Timber-theft-prevention-introduction-to-security-for-forest-managers.

Malo, J.E., Suarez, F. & Diez, A. 2004. Can we mitigate animal-vehicle accidents using predictive models? Journal of Applied Ecology 41: 701-710.

Mountrakis, G. & Gunson, K. 2009. Multi-scale spatiotemporal analyses of moose-vehicle collisions: A case study in northern Vermont. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 23(11): 1389-1412. doi:10.1080/13658810802406132.

Norshaqinah, A., Muzneena, A.M., Juliana, S. & Norhayati, A. 2018. Distribution and abundance of vertebrate animal road-kills in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 70(3): 341-348.

Ortega, C.P. 2012. Chapter 2: Effects of noise pollution on birds: A brief review of our knowledge. Ornithological Monographs 74(1): 6-22. doi:10.1525/om.2012.74.1.6.6.

Patricelli, G.L., Blickley, J.L., Auk, S.T., Jul, N. & Patricelli, G.L. 2006. Avian communication in urban noise: Causes and consequences of vocal adjustment. The American Ornithologist’s Union 123(3): 639-649.

Prasannakumar, V., Vijith, H., Charutha, R. & Geetha, N. 2011. Spatio-temporal clustering of road accidents: GIS based analysis and assessment. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 21(June): 317-325. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.07.020.

Quintero-Ángel, A., Osorio-Dominguez, D., Vargas-Salinas, F. & Saavedra-Rodríguez, C.A. 2012. Roadkill rate of snakes in a disturbed landscape of Central Andes of Colombia. Herpetology Notes 5: 99-105. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.02.004.

Ramp, D., Caldwell, J., Edwards, K.A., Warton, D. & Croft, D.B. 2005. Modelling of wildlife fatality hotspots along the Snowy Mountain Highway in New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 126(4): 474-490. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.07.001.

Ramp, D., Wilson, V.K. & Croft, D.B. 2006. Assessing the impacts of roads in peri-urban reserves: Road-based fatalities and road usage by wildlife in the Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 129(3): 348-359. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.11.002.

Saunders, S., Mislivets, M., Chen, J. & Cleland, D. 2002. Effects of roads on landscape structure within nested ecological units of the Northern Great Lakes Region, USA. Biological Conservation 103(2): 209-225. doi:doi: 10.1016/s0006-3207(01)00130-6.

Seiler, A. 2003. The Toll of the Automobile: Wildlife and Roads in Sweden. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala.

Seo, C. & Thorne, J.H. 2015. Disentangling roadkill: The influence of landscape and season on cumulative vertebrate mortality in South Korea. Landscape and Ecological Engineering 11: 87-99. doi:10.1007/s11355-013-0239-2.

Shine, R., Harlow, P.S. & Keogh, J.S. 1996. Commercial harvesting of giant lizards: The biology of water monitors Varanus salvator in southern Sumatra. Biological Conservation 77(2-3): 125-134.

Sinsch, U. 1990. Migration and orientation in anuran amphibians. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 2(1): 65-79.

Smith, L.L. & Dodd, C.K. 2003. Wildlife mortality on US highway 441 across Paynes Prairie, Alachua County, Florida. Florida Scientist 66(2): 128-140.

Snow, N.P., Williams, D.M. & Porter, W.F. 2014. A landscape-based approach for delineating hotspots of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Landscape Ecology 29(5): 817-829.

Smith, L.L. & Dodd, C.K. 2003. Wildlife mortality on US highway 441 across Paynes Prairie, Alachua County, Florida. Florida Scientist 66(2): 128-140.

Taylor, B.D. & Goldingay, R.L. 2010. Roads and wildlife: Impacts, mitigation and implications for wildlife management in Australia. Wildlife Research 37: 320-331. doi:10.1071/WR09171.

Traeholt, C. 1997. Activity patterns of free-living water monitor lizards Varanus salvator. Malayan Nature Journal 50: 301-315.

Træholt, C. 1993. Notes of the feeding behaviour of the water monitor, Varanus salvator. Malayan Nature Journal 43: 229-241.

Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. 2018. The reptile database. http://www.reptile-database.org. Accessed on 8 September 2018.

Vences, M. & Köhler, J. 2008. Global diversity of amphibians (Amphibia) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595: 569-580.

Vijayakumar, S.P., Vasudevan, K. & Ishwar, N.M. 2001. Herpetofaunal mortality on roads in the Anamalai Hills, Southern Western Ghats. Hamadryad 26(2): 265-272.

 

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: amphibia.my@gmail.com

   

 

sebelumnya