Lautala 2010). Thus, soil becomes exposed and subject to an increasing runoff that
promotes its erosion (Chen et al. 2015). The erosion of rail embankments can result
in a washing out of sediments (Jin et al. 2008) that cause water pollution.
Furthermore, Gregorich et al. (1998) noted that soil erosion and deposition alter the
biological process of carbon mineralization in soil landscapes, which affects the soil
quality and, hence, the vegetation.
Railway construction parallel to streams can result in hydrological disconnections (Pennington et al. 2010) that dry the soils (Blanton and Marcus 2009). Such
disconnections can have a significant impact on the ecological function of riparian
landscapes by negatively affecting floodplain evolution, riparian ecosystem processes, and associated biodiversity (Snyder et al. 2002). Although urban riparian
areas could harbor great diversity of native canopy and shrub species, the richness
of native canopy species was lower near railways (Snyder et al. 2002).
Effects of Railway Disturbance on Wildlife
There is evidence that disturbance from noise, lights, and vibrations associated with
the construction and operation of the railway affect some species, and this can occur
at various life cycles (van Rooyen 2009; Wiacek et al. 2015). In contrast, other
studies suggest that wildlife ignores or adapts to railway disturbances (Ghosh et al.
2010; Mundahl et al. 2013). As observed for roads, the severity of railway disturbance depends on the species’ bio-ecological features and on the degree of the
disturbance (e.g., Rytwinski and Fahrig 2012). However, little is known about their
role in species viability. We now review the main findings on wildlife behaviour
responses to railway disturbance.
Insects
To the best of our knowledge, only the study by Penone et al. (2012) assessed the
impact of railways on insects. They studied Tettigoniidae (bush crickets) at railway
edges in an urban context (Penone et al. 2012), and found that species richness and
abundance was explained by a quadratic effect of train speed (described by a humpbacked curve). This is especially true of mobile species at larger scales than on
sedentary species. However, vegetated railway verges had a significant positive effect
on most species, suggesting that suitable habitats with appropriate management can
overcome the negative effects of disturbance on larger scales (Penone et al. 2012).
6 Railway Disturbances on Wildlife: Types, Effects, and Mitigation …
85
promotes its erosion (Chen et al. 2015). The erosion of rail embankments can result
in a washing out of sediments (Jin et al. 2008) that cause water pollution.
Furthermore, Gregorich et al. (1998) noted that soil erosion and deposition alter the
biological process of carbon mineralization in soil landscapes, which affects the soil
quality and, hence, the vegetation.
Railway construction parallel to streams can result in hydrological disconnections (Pennington et al. 2010) that dry the soils (Blanton and Marcus 2009). Such
disconnections can have a significant impact on the ecological function of riparian
landscapes by negatively affecting floodplain evolution, riparian ecosystem processes, and associated biodiversity (Snyder et al. 2002). Although urban riparian
areas could harbor great diversity of native canopy and shrub species, the richness
of native canopy species was lower near railways (Snyder et al. 2002).
Effects of Railway Disturbance on Wildlife
There is evidence that disturbance from noise, lights, and vibrations associated with
the construction and operation of the railway affect some species, and this can occur
at various life cycles (van Rooyen 2009; Wiacek et al. 2015). In contrast, other
studies suggest that wildlife ignores or adapts to railway disturbances (Ghosh et al.
2010; Mundahl et al. 2013). As observed for roads, the severity of railway disturbance depends on the species’ bio-ecological features and on the degree of the
disturbance (e.g., Rytwinski and Fahrig 2012). However, little is known about their
role in species viability. We now review the main findings on wildlife behaviour
responses to railway disturbance.
Insects
To the best of our knowledge, only the study by Penone et al. (2012) assessed the
impact of railways on insects. They studied Tettigoniidae (bush crickets) at railway
edges in an urban context (Penone et al. 2012), and found that species richness and
abundance was explained by a quadratic effect of train speed (described by a humpbacked curve). This is especially true of mobile species at larger scales than on
sedentary species. However, vegetated railway verges had a significant positive effect
on most species, suggesting that suitable habitats with appropriate management can
overcome the negative effects of disturbance on larger scales (Penone et al. 2012).
6 Railway Disturbances on Wildlife: Types, Effects, and Mitigation …
85