Herpetofauna
Among vertebrates, amphibians are one of the groups most affected by linear
infrastructures (e.g., Fahrig and Rytwinski 2009). Their dependence on aquatic
habitats and seasonal migrations make amphibians particularly vulnerable to the
negative impacts of these structures (Hels and Buchwald 2001; Hamer and
McDonnell 2008). However, to the best of our knowledge no studies have been
carried out on the impact of railway disturbances on amphibians.
In contrast, there have been several studies that show that reptiles ignore railway
disturbances. For example, in Belgium, all autochthonous reptile species have
colonized the railway embankments, but their presence and abundance largely
depend on the region and on the kind of railway (Graitson 2006). Railway
embankments can provide important novel habitats for reptiles, mainly in highly
human-altered landscapes (EN 2004). Some active lines in sunny areas of large
valleys and some large switchyards, as well as unused railways not dismounted, had
a particularly high richness of reptiles (Graitson 2006). In fact, those railways may
have contributed to the local dispersal of at least five species of reptiles: slow worm
(Anguis fragilis), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), common wall lizards (Podarcis
muralis), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), and smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) (Graitson 2006). Likewise, the rainbow lizard (Cnemidophorus lemnistactus) was found in the weeds growing along the Florida East Coast Railway line
occupied by industrial buildings (Wilson and Porras 1983). In Switzerland, a relatively great abundance of reptile species can be found in the vicinity of the
railways, especially sand lizards (Stoll 2013). However, the abundance of reptiles in
the railway banks can be affected by two key factors: the inter-specific competition
with the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis, and predation through domestic cats
Felis catus (Stoll 2013).
Birds
There have been several studies that show that railway disturbance affects bird
richness, abundance, and behaviour. Noise can affect acoustic communication
among bird species that use calls and songs to attract and bond with mates, defend
territories from rivals, maintain contact with social groups, beg for food, and warn
of danger from approaching predators (Collins 2004; Marler 2004). Noise disturbance was shown to alter the behaviour of many bird species, especially for
breeding birds, when territories are being defended, and during incubation (Reijnen
et al. 1995). This disturbance can cause birds to accelerate hatching, abandon their
occupied territories, nests and broods, and lead to hearing loss (Hanson 2007).
For example, noise emission from railway traffic has a negative effect on the
density of all meadow birds in the Netherlands (Waterman et al. 2002). The
threshold noise level from which densities were affected was around 42–49 dB(A)
86
P.S. Lucas et al.
Among vertebrates, amphibians are one of the groups most affected by linear
infrastructures (e.g., Fahrig and Rytwinski 2009). Their dependence on aquatic
habitats and seasonal migrations make amphibians particularly vulnerable to the
negative impacts of these structures (Hels and Buchwald 2001; Hamer and
McDonnell 2008). However, to the best of our knowledge no studies have been
carried out on the impact of railway disturbances on amphibians.
In contrast, there have been several studies that show that reptiles ignore railway
disturbances. For example, in Belgium, all autochthonous reptile species have
colonized the railway embankments, but their presence and abundance largely
depend on the region and on the kind of railway (Graitson 2006). Railway
embankments can provide important novel habitats for reptiles, mainly in highly
human-altered landscapes (EN 2004). Some active lines in sunny areas of large
valleys and some large switchyards, as well as unused railways not dismounted, had
a particularly high richness of reptiles (Graitson 2006). In fact, those railways may
have contributed to the local dispersal of at least five species of reptiles: slow worm
(Anguis fragilis), sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), common wall lizards (Podarcis
muralis), viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara), and smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) (Graitson 2006). Likewise, the rainbow lizard (Cnemidophorus lemnistactus) was found in the weeds growing along the Florida East Coast Railway line
occupied by industrial buildings (Wilson and Porras 1983). In Switzerland, a relatively great abundance of reptile species can be found in the vicinity of the
railways, especially sand lizards (Stoll 2013). However, the abundance of reptiles in
the railway banks can be affected by two key factors: the inter-specific competition
with the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis, and predation through domestic cats
Felis catus (Stoll 2013).
Birds
There have been several studies that show that railway disturbance affects bird
richness, abundance, and behaviour. Noise can affect acoustic communication
among bird species that use calls and songs to attract and bond with mates, defend
territories from rivals, maintain contact with social groups, beg for food, and warn
of danger from approaching predators (Collins 2004; Marler 2004). Noise disturbance was shown to alter the behaviour of many bird species, especially for
breeding birds, when territories are being defended, and during incubation (Reijnen
et al. 1995). This disturbance can cause birds to accelerate hatching, abandon their
occupied territories, nests and broods, and lead to hearing loss (Hanson 2007).
For example, noise emission from railway traffic has a negative effect on the
density of all meadow birds in the Netherlands (Waterman et al. 2002). The
threshold noise level from which densities were affected was around 42–49 dB(A)
86
P.S. Lucas et al.