Abstract

ARAYA-GAMBOA, Daniela  and  SALOM-PEREZ, Roberto. Identification of fauna crossing sites on the 415 route, in the "Paso del Jaguar", Costa Rica. Infraestructura Vial [online]. 2015, vol.17, n.30, pp.5-12. ISSN 2215-3705.

The Jaguar Corridor Initiative aims to maintain the connectivity of this species. In Costa Rica, this initiative started on the Barbilla-Destierro Biological Subcorridor. The future paving of a road as an offset measure of Reventazon Hydroelectric Project was identified as a potential barrier for the connectivity of the jaguar (Panthera onca) and other animals. In this study we suggest a method that can be used to identify animal crossing points on a gravel road. Data was collected from June 2011 to January 2012. We made a comparison between gravel and paved sections of the same road. To identify animal crossing sites and sectors, information from surveys, interviews and structural connectivity was overlapped. When comparing the gravel and paved sections, the paved section had more cars using it, more houses at its edges, more wildlife roadkills and fewer sightings and species. Three wildlife crossings sites and five sectors were identified. Jaguar and margay (Leopardus wiedii) were registered crossing the road, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) frequently used a culvert as an underpass. This methodology may be used as a practical tool that can be implemented by government and enterprises to identify wildlife crossing sites and to recommend mitigation actions that would reduce the impact caused by the creation and improvement of roads in the region.

Keywords : Road ecology; Panthera onca; Barbilla-Destierro Biological Subcorridor; roadkill; Jaguar Corridor Initiative.

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