Researchers in China have discovered the key factors that influence the usage of wildlife crossing structures by endangered ungulate species, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.
Critical for Wildlife: Crossing Structures
The spring hunting ground of gregarious ungulates is located in the Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Wildlife Nature Reserve (KNR) in Xinjiang, China where many endangered and threatened species of ungulates inhabit, such as 80 % of countrywide khulan population and approximately 10,000 goitered gazelles. But the planned S11 expressway threatened to cut through the reserve and with it the movement and living conditions of those invaluable species.
To get around this, the scientists sought the help of their Chinese counterparts in the evaluation of 22 wildlife crossing structures (CSs) that had been constructed along S11 expressway in collaboration with Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) Chinese Academy of Sciences. The team was able to do this by monitoring the CSs belonging to khulan and goitered gazelle, through using a network of 214 infrared cameras for period of two years.
Uncovered Preferences and Behaviors
The results of this study indicated that khulan were found to use all 22 crossing structures, and the seven and 13 CSs were used with frequent crossing for both species by goitered gazelle. This exemplifies the critical nature of them for sustaining connectivity and subsequently survival of these populations.
The researchers said it was interesting to note that the preferences of both species differed. Khulan frequented CSs characterized by more open habitat which were close to water sources, whereas goitered get and gazelles preferred ponding or larger-openness CSs. Furthermore, the distance from railway CSs and the presence of predators as well as human disturbance positively affected the choice of using CS by goitered gazelles.
Our results are key to fine-tune future wildlife crossing structures in terms of design and position, that should best assist the survival and movement of species like khulan and goitered gazelle.
Conclusion
These results underscore the need for well-planned, strategically-located wildlife crossing structures capable of contributing to endangered ungulate species preservation efforts. With knowledge of the causes of these crossings, researchers and policy makers will be able to develop better solutions that allow both wildlife and major human infrastructures to coexist, giving hope for what lies ahead for these essential species.
