Thread by @PQPTurtles

**NEW PAPER ALERT** 'Road effect mitigation promotes connectivity and reduces mortality at the population level'. #turtles #snakes #amphibians #roadecology @OntarioParks @PresquilePP

Road mortality is a major threat to reptile and amphibian populations. Using a 6-year paired BACI design, we tested if roadside fencing and tunnels beneath the road would reduce road mortality rates of reptiles and amphibians.

We found that road mortality was reduced for turtles and amphibians compared to our control site- great! However, we found no effect of the mitigation on snake mortality - not good!

We also monitored tunnel usage by reptiles and amphibians, using a combinations of #PITtags and #cameratraps.

Tunnel usage was highly variable and corresponded to major life history events for each taxa. Importantly though, these events were spread out over 6 months, something short-term monitoring wouldn't have captured!

Finally we put this all in context using population estimates. Based on two years of tunnel usage data, ~12% of the snapping turtles and ~5% of the painted turtles in the local population were using tunnels. Very few studies have ever put tunnel usage in a population context.

Our study highlights importance of road-effect mitigation, and demonstrates that fencing and tunnels can effectively reduce harmful road effects, both by significantly decreasing mortality, as well as facilitating crossings to a meaningful portion of the population.

Finally, this project involved A LOT of people. Partners, mentors, colleagues, field techs, volunteers, funders, all of which were integral to its success.

@OntarioParks @PresquilePP authors.elsevier.com/a/1dP6w1R~eL856

Find the full paper here --> authors.elsevier.com/a/1dP6w1R~eL856
Open access for 50 days from publication!