Road Ecology

by Forman, Richard T. T.; Sperling, Daniel; Bissonette, John A.

• ISBN13: 9781559639330
• ISBN10: 1559639334
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-01
• Publisher: Island Pr

Summary

A central goal of transportation is the delivery of safe and efficient services with minimal environmental impact. In practice, though, human mobility has flourished while nature has suffered. Awareness of the environmental impacts of roads is increasing, yet information remains scarce for those interested in studying, understanding, or minimizing the ecological effects of roads and vehicles.Road Ecologyaddresses that shortcoming by elevating previously localized and fragmented knowledge into a broad and inclusive framework for understanding and developing solutions. The book brings together fourteen leading ecologists and transportation experts to articulate state-of-the-science road ecology principles, and presents specific examples that demonstrate the application of those principles. Diverse theories, concepts, and models in the new field of road ecology are integrated to establish a coherent framework for transportation policy, planning, and projects. Topics examined include:foundations of road ecologyroads, vehicles, and transportation planningvegetation and roadsideswildlife populations and mitigationwater, sediment, and chemical flowsaquatic ecosystemswind, noise, and atmospheric effectsroad networks and landscape fragmentationRoad Ecologylinks ecological theories and concepts with transportation planning, engineering, and travel behavior. With more than 100 illustrations and examples from around the world, it is an indispensable and pioneering work for anyone involved with transportation, including practitioners and planners in state and province transportation departments, federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. The book also opens up an important new research frontier for ecologists.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Thomas B. Deen
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvii
The Metric System in North America	xix
PART I. ROADS, VEHICLES, AND ECOLOGY
Foundations of Road Ecology	3	(22)
What Is Road Ecology?	7	(2)
Earth, Fill, and Soil	9	(3)
Introducing Ecological Concepts	12	(4)
The Roots and Emergence of Road Ecology	16	(9)
Roads	25	(24)
History of the U.S. Road System	27	(6)
The Canadian Road System	33	(6)
Size, Growth, and Pattern of the U.S. Road Network	39	(4)
Roadsides, Bridges, and Other Engineering Structures	43	(6)
Vehicles and Planning	49	(26)
Automobility and Its Challenges	50	(5)
Vehicle Size, Fuel, and Technology Trends	55	(2)
The Planning and Project Development Process	57	(6)
Transportation Planning and Air Quality Models	63	(2)
Project Development, the Environment, and NEPA	65	(10)
PART II. VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE
Roadsides and Vegetation	75	(38)
Reading the Roadside	76	(7)
Vegetation	83	(3)
Plants	86	(9)
Roadside Habitats and Animals	95	(4)
Roadside Management	99	(14)
Wildlife Populations	113	(26)
Wildlife Mortality on Roads	114	(6)
Factors Affecting Mortality	120	(3)
Changes in Amount and Quality of Habitat	123	(6)
Effects on Landscape Connectivity	129	(5)
Cumulative Effects and Road Density	134	(5)
Mitigation for Wildlife	139	(32)
Mitigation for Mortality, Habitat Loss, and Reduced Habitat Quality	140	(7)
Types of Wildlife Underpasses and Overpasses	147	(4)
Factors Affecting the Use of Wildlife Passages	151	(5)
Wildlife Passages: Summary and Effectiveness	156	(9)
Mitigation Case Studies	165	(6)
PART III. WATER, CHEMICALS, AND ATMOSPHERE
Water and Sediment Flows	171	(30)
Erosion and Sediment Control	172	(5)
Reciprocal Effect of Road Systems and Water	177	(3)
A Conceptual Framework for Roads and Water Flow	180	(5)
Roads and Water on Hillsides and Flat Lands	185	(10)
Road Types, Land Use, and Water	195	(6)
Chemicals along Roads	201	(24)
Sources of Chemical Pollutants	202	(5)
Chemicals and Their Dispersion	207	(4)
Types of Ecological Effects	211	(2)
Roadsalt	213	(6)
Best Management Practices for Pollutant Mitigation and Source Control	219	(6)
Aquatic Ecosystems	225	(28)
Habitat Structure, Connectivity, and Roads	226	(4)
Lakes	230	(8)
Wetlands	238	(6)
Streams, Rivers, Bridges, and Culverts	244	(5)
Estuarine Salt Marshes	249	(4)
Wind and Atmospheric Effects	253	(38)
Microclimate, Wind, and Windbreaks	254	(6)
Dust and Erosion	260	(5)
Snow and Snowbreaks	265	(5)
Vehicle Disturbance and Traffic Noise	270	(9)
Atmospheric Effects at Local, Regional, and Global Scales	279	(12)
PART IV. ROAD SYSTEMS AND FURTHER PERSPECTIVES
Road Systems Linked with the Land	291	(28)
Network Theory for Road Ecology	294	(3)
Spatial Attributes of Road Networks	297	(5)
Changing Road Networks	302	(4)
Road System Effects on the Surrounding Land	306	(10)
Effects of Surrounding Land on Road Systems	316	(3)
The Four Landscapes with Major Road Systems	319	(32)
Built Land and Road Systems	320	(13)
Forestry Land and Road Systems	333	(8)
Agricultural Land and Road Systems	341	(5)
Grazing Land, Arid Land, and Road Systems	346	(5)
Roads and Vehicles in Natural Landscapes	351	(24)
Remote Land, Roads, and Vehicles	352	(3)
Parkland, Roads, and Vehicles	355	(5)
The Arctic and Its Roads and Vehicles	360	(8)
The Tropics and Its Roads and Vehicles	368	(7)
Further Perspectives	375	(26)
Road Ecology and Sustainability	376	(3)
Toward Policy and Planning Solutions	379	(8)
An Array of Perspectives for Future Policy, Planning, and Projects	387	(10)
Whither Road Ecology?	397	(4)
Bibliography	401	(58)
About the Authors	459	(8)
Index	467