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Wiley InterScience | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  Conservation BiologyVolume 14 Issue 1, Pages 31 - 35 Published Online: 24 Dec 2001 ©2010, Society for Conservation Biology Published on behalf of the Society for Conservation Biology
Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 412K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking  Estimate of the Area Affected Ecologically by the Road System in the United States Copyright Society for Conservation Biology ABSTRACTAbstract: In view of an extensive road system, abundant and rapidly growing vehicular traffic, and a scattered literature indicating that some ecological effects of roads extend outward for >100 m, it seems likely that the cumulative ecological effect of the road system in the United States is considerable. Two recent studies in The Netherlands and Massachusetts ( U.S.A.) evaluated several ecological effects of roads, including traffic noise effects, and provide quantitative evidence for a definable "road-effect zone." Based on the approximate width of this asymmetric convoluted zone, I estimate that about one-fifth of the U.S. land area is directly affected ecologically by the system of public roads. I identify a series of assumptions and variables suggesting that over time this preliminary estimate is more likely to rise than drop. Several transportation planning and policy recommendations, ranging from perforating the road barrier for wildlife crossings to closing certain roads, offer promise for reducing this enormous ecological effect. ABSTRACTResumen: En vista de un sistema carretero extensivo, un abundante y creciente tráfico vehicular y una literatura dispersa indicando que algunos efectos ecológicos de las carreteras se extienden más allá de 100 m, parece probable que los efectos ecológicos acumulativos del sistema carretero en los Estados Unidos es considerable. Dos estudios recientes en los Países Bajos y Massachusetts ( USA) evaluaron diversos efectos ecológicos de las carreteras, incluyendo efectos del ruido del tráfico y proporcionan evidencia cuantitativa para una definible "zona de efecto carretero". En base a la amplitud aproximada de esta zona conpleja y asimétrica, estimé que alrededor de una auinta parte del área terrestre de los Estados Unidos es directamente afectada ecológicamente por el sistema de carreteras públicas. Identifiqué series de conjeturas y variables que surgieren que a lo largo del tiempo esta estimación preliminar es mas probable que incremente a que disminuya. Diversos planes de transportación y recomendaciones políticas, que van desde perforar la barrera carretera para propiciar el cruce de vida silvestre hasta el cierre de ciertas carreteras ofrecen la promesa de reducir este efecto carretero. Paper submitted June 14, 1999; manuscript accepted July 10, 1999. | 
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Free Article from Conservation Biology |  |
The article One Hundred Questions of Importance to the Conservation of Global Biological Diversity is now available FREE online. | |
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Conservation Letters |
Conservation Letters is a new, online-only scientific journal publishing empirical and theoretical research with significant implications for the conservation of biological diversity. |
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Conservation |
Conservation is a sophisticated, readable, and utterly practical magazine for people who are serious about conservation. |
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 | New Perspectives on Psychology and Human–Animal Interactions |
This issue of Journal of Social Issues focuses on human attitudes toward the use of other species, the effects of relationships with companion animals on human health and well-being, and the ethical and policy implications of our interactions with other species. | |
