Monitoring wildlife crossing structures along Beijing-xinjiang Expressage（Linbai section）

Author of the article:lilingbei

Author's Workplace：1.Jilin Agricultural University 2.China Academy of Transportation Sciences 3.Bureau of monitoring quality of transportation engineering in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Key Words：Nature Reserve; Bridge; Culvert;Camera-trapping;road ecology

Abstract：Beijing-xinjiang expressway cut through and adjacent to three Nature Reserves, and to protect the wildlife plenty of wildlife crossing structures have been located along this expressway. However, no report on the use efficiency of those structures by wildlife till now. From November 2016 to October 2017，18 wildlife crossing structures were monitored by 30 infrared cameras along the expressway. The research results indicate: 1) Five mammal species and fifteen bird species used the crossing structures, among of which two species was list Chinese second protected species; 2) Both mammals and birds prefer bridges rather than culverts; 3) Size of wildlife crossing structures was the key factor to determine the use rate of wildlife, and vegetation coverage and water size both contribute to the wildlife crossing structures. This study suggest that road design schemes include large and open crossing structures to benefit most species in combination with permanent or temporal water body and rich in vegetation types to benefit the wildlife approach and use the wildlife crossing structures.