Papers by Anthony P. Clevenger
Tropical Conservation Science
The Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii is the national animal of Belize. Accidents from vehic... more The Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii is the national animal of Belize. Accidents from vehicle collisions pose a new threat to the species. A total of 14 tapir deaths were recorded from June 2008 through December 2012 in Central Belize District. Two areas were identified as hot spots for tapir-vehicle collisions (TVCs), and spot-speed surveys revealed speeding to be common in that area. More than 47% of the vehicles were traveling above the prescribed speed limit, and another 28% were driving at speeds of 100 kph or faster. In an effort to reduce speed and the risk of TVCs, we deployed two sets of reflective wildlife crossing signs over a 6-km stretch of road. This was followed by an awareness campaign alerting drivers of tapirs' presence in the area. We saw a significant reduction in speed immediately after the installation of the warning signs, and no TVCs were recorded for the next 10 months. Consequently, camera-trapping and track surveys were undertaken to confirm the species continued presence in the immediate area. Over the next 2 years, only two collisions were recorded along the same stretch of road.
Low wolverine (Gulo gulo) density in a national park complex of the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Large carnivores are sensitive to human-caused extirpation due to large home ranges, low populati... more Large carnivores are sensitive to human-caused extirpation due to large home ranges, low population densities and low reproductive rates. Protected areas help maintain populations by acting as sources, but human-caused mortality, habitat displacement and edge effects occurring at protected area boundaries may reduce that function. The national parks Banff, Yoho and Kootenay in the Canadian Rocky Mountains are refugia for large carnivores, including wolverines (Gulo gulo (Linnaeus, 1758)). Despite growing conservation concern, empirical baseline population data for wolverines remain scarce throughout their range, including most of Canada. We hypothesized that (1) in these national parks, wolverine density matched values expected for high-quality habitat, and (2) that edge effects decreased density towards park boundaries. We conducted systematic non-invasive genetic sampling surveys covering >7000 km2 (2011 and 2013). Using spatial capture-recapture models, we estimated mean femal...
Differences in Spatiotemporal Patterns of Vehicle Collisions with Wildlife and Livestock
Environmental Management
Demographic fragmentation of a protected wolverine population bisected by a major transportation corridor
Biological Conservation
Road expansion: A challenge to conservation of mammals, with particular emphasis on the endangered Asiatic cheetah in Iran
Journal for Nature Conservation
Sign surveys for estimating trend of a remnant brown bear Ursus arctos population in northern spain
Wildlife Biology
ABSTRACT Brown bears Ursus arctos in Spain's Cantabrian Mountains are continuing to decli... more ABSTRACT Brown bears Ursus arctos in Spain's Cantabrian Mountains are continuing to decline in numbers despite their protected status. Recovery plans for this population stress the need for monitoring of occupied habitat using non-intrusive methods. A population monitoring program to estimate bear abundance indices by quantifying tracks and scats (sign surveys) along a network of survey routes was designed. Each route was divided into consecutive 1.6-km segments, which comprised the basic sampling unit, and were assumed to provide independent observations. During a 3-year pilot study surveys were run twice per year, totaling 70 routes, including 950 segments, and covering over 1,500 km annually. Averages of 0.06 sign per segment were observed; only 4% of the segments had sign. It is concluded that the present sampling scheme does not provide enough statistical power to accurately detect significant declines in population level. The difficulties of monitoring trends of low density populations using surveys are recognized. However, by increasing the sampling intensity, more reliable information and greater precision of the population trend estimate should be obtainable. Thus, a future monitoring strategy should be based on increasing sampling intensity and closely monitoring hear distribution and occurrence.
Factors affecting the permeability of road mitigation measures to the movement of small mammals
Canadian Journal of Zoology
Mitigation measures, such as wildlife-exclusion fencing and crossing structures (overpasses, unde... more Mitigation measures, such as wildlife-exclusion fencing and crossing structures (overpasses, underpasses, culverts), have been widely demonstrated to reduce the negative effects of roads on medium-sized and large animals. It is unclear how these mitigation measures influence the movement of small mammals (<5 kg). Our study has three objectives: (1) to test whether culverts improve highway permeability; (2) to determine factors associated with culvert use, such as culvert obstruction by snow; (3) to evaluate factors contributing towards fence permeability, such as the presence of a culvert, snow depth, and fence mesh size. We used snow tracking to assess the movement for four small-mammal taxa along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. We found that the presence of a culvert within 100 m of transects significantly improved fence and highway permeability. Obstruction of the culvert entrance by snow was negatively correlated with the probability...
Environmental challenges for the Belt and Road Initiative
Nature Sustainability
Data in Brief
The data presented here consist of the locations of 839 roadkill points from four years (2012-201... more The data presented here consist of the locations of 839 roadkill points from four years (2012-2015) of roadkill surveys for small and medium-sized mammals (under 30 kg) from a four-lane highway in Quebec (Highway 175) during the months of May to October. Seventeen species or species groups were identified, all local to the area, and none of which were identified as species at risk, threatened, or endangered. The GPS coordinates of each roadkill event are given, along with the date, time of day (morning or evening), location (northbound or southbound lanes) and species (where possible). Within the surveyed road, 18 wildlife passages with 100 m fencing on each side of the passage entrances were built for small and medium-sized mammals. The GPS coordinates of the 18 passages and the end of each corresponding fence are also provided.
Safe passages: highways, wildlife, and habitat connectivity
Choice Reviews Online
... contents Foreword xi Preface xv PARTI CURRENT PRACTICES 1 Chapter 1 Connecting Wildlife Popul... more ... contents Foreword xi Preface xv PARTI CURRENT PRACTICES 1 Chapter 1 Connecting Wildlife Populations in Fractured Landscapes 3 jon p. beckmann and jodi ... 189 mark l. watson and kurt a. menke Chapter 10 The I-75 Project: Lessons from the Florida Panther 205 deborah ...
Ecology and Society
Cost-benefit analyses of mitigation measures aimed at reducing collisions with large ungulates in... more Cost-benefit analyses of mitigation measures aimed at reducing collisions with large ungulates in the United States and Canada; a decision support tool. Ecology and Society 14(2): 15.
Ecology and Evolution
Cumulative effects of climate and landscape change drive spatial distribution of Rocky Mountain w... more Cumulative effects of climate and landscape change drive spatial distribution of Rocky Mountain wolverine (Gulo gulo L.
During the 16th century, the European brown bear (Ursus arctos) inhabited most of the Iberian Pen... more During the 16th century, the European brown bear (Ursus arctos) inhabited most of the Iberian Peninsula. At present, its range in Spain is limited to 2 relict populations: the Pyrenees and the Cantabrian mountains. In 1973, the bear was declared a protected species; hunting was prohibited and compensation was paid for all livestock and agricultural damages by bears. The small
Road Ecology Center, May 20, 2007
As a direct result of this project and Dr. Clevenger's efforts, WTI secured a follow-up project f... more As a direct result of this project and Dr. Clevenger's efforts, WTI secured a follow-up project funded by the Woodcock Foundation. "DNA Profiling to Identify Individuals Using Wildlife Crossings" is a pilot study to test techniques and develop a protocol for systematically sampling and genotyping of hairs "captured" from passing animals at wildlife crossings. As a result of both the tangible and intangible benefits achieved by this project, WTI offered Dr. Clevenger a permanent position on the research staff.
The Relationship Among Grizzly Bears, Highways and Habitat in the Banff-Bow Valley, Alberta, Canada
Canadian Journal of Zoology, Aug 1, 2003
A Better Solution for Photo-Classification, Automatic Storage and Data Input of Camera Data From Wildlife Crossing Structures
Uploads
Papers by Anthony P. Clevenger