74%), and turbidity from soils susceptible to high-intensity storms. A study performed by Persyn et al. (2004) showed that the use of various compounds applied to
the soil might also reduce erosion rates. All compost treatments (biosolids, yard
waste, and bio-industrial by-products) were effective at reducing runoff and inter-rill
erosion rates under the conditions simulated in the study conducted on a highway
embankment after construction in central Iowa (Persyn et al. 2004).
There are also engineering measures, such as concrete prefabricated panes,
geocells (three-dimensional honeycomb-like structures to reduce runoff and sediment transport), or interception and drainage that can also reduce the soil loss along
highways and railways (e.g., Xu et al. 2006). These measures were effective in the
short term by decreasing between 40 and 60% of the runoff that had effectively
reduced soil loss from sideslopes of highways in the Tibetan Plateau (Xu et al.
2006). However, this measure needs to be applied with some caution, since weak
construction may lead to water leaking from improperly sealed cracks or holes,
loose contact parts, poorly rammed structures, or runoff converging along a flow
line, causing adverse effects on the road embankment and in the surrounding
environment (Xu et al. 2006).
Conclusions
There have been several studies that quantified the level of various disturbances and
their impacts on wildlife populations. Plants are, in general, the first to be described
in relation to air and soil contamination, perhaps due to the facility of realizing
experimental analysis, or of using plants as bio-indicators. Nevertheless, there is
still little scant knowledge about the mechanisms and processes underlying the
behaviour of vertebrates, because most studies concerned only a small number of
species (van der Grift 1999). There is strong evidence that noise, light, and
vibrations that can reach from 85.5 to 97 dB(A), can affect insects, amphibians and
birds (Fig. 6.2). In contrast, the availability of food and vegetation in the railway
verges seems to overcome the noise pollution and seems to attract reptiles, some
bird species, and several mammals (Fig. 6.2). There is a wide diversity of measures
to minimize railway disturbances, but further studies are needed to understand the
effectiveness of these measures in reducing railway disturbance of wildlife.
Acknowledgments This research for this chapter was conducted within the framework of the
project “Road macroecology: analysis tools to assess impacts on biodiversity and landscape
structure,” that was funded by CNPq in Brazil (Nº 401171/2014-0). CG was supported by the
Grant (300021/2015-1).
6 Railway Disturbances on Wildlife: Types, Effects, and Mitigation …
93
the soil might also reduce erosion rates. All compost treatments (biosolids, yard
waste, and bio-industrial by-products) were effective at reducing runoff and inter-rill
erosion rates under the conditions simulated in the study conducted on a highway
embankment after construction in central Iowa (Persyn et al. 2004).
There are also engineering measures, such as concrete prefabricated panes,
geocells (three-dimensional honeycomb-like structures to reduce runoff and sediment transport), or interception and drainage that can also reduce the soil loss along
highways and railways (e.g., Xu et al. 2006). These measures were effective in the
short term by decreasing between 40 and 60% of the runoff that had effectively
reduced soil loss from sideslopes of highways in the Tibetan Plateau (Xu et al.
2006). However, this measure needs to be applied with some caution, since weak
construction may lead to water leaking from improperly sealed cracks or holes,
loose contact parts, poorly rammed structures, or runoff converging along a flow
line, causing adverse effects on the road embankment and in the surrounding
environment (Xu et al. 2006).
Conclusions
There have been several studies that quantified the level of various disturbances and
their impacts on wildlife populations. Plants are, in general, the first to be described
in relation to air and soil contamination, perhaps due to the facility of realizing
experimental analysis, or of using plants as bio-indicators. Nevertheless, there is
still little scant knowledge about the mechanisms and processes underlying the
behaviour of vertebrates, because most studies concerned only a small number of
species (van der Grift 1999). There is strong evidence that noise, light, and
vibrations that can reach from 85.5 to 97 dB(A), can affect insects, amphibians and
birds (Fig. 6.2). In contrast, the availability of food and vegetation in the railway
verges seems to overcome the noise pollution and seems to attract reptiles, some
bird species, and several mammals (Fig. 6.2). There is a wide diversity of measures
to minimize railway disturbances, but further studies are needed to understand the
effectiveness of these measures in reducing railway disturbance of wildlife.
Acknowledgments This research for this chapter was conducted within the framework of the
project “Road macroecology: analysis tools to assess impacts on biodiversity and landscape
structure,” that was funded by CNPq in Brazil (Nº 401171/2014-0). CG was supported by the
Grant (300021/2015-1).
6 Railway Disturbances on Wildlife: Types, Effects, and Mitigation …
93