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The permeability of highway in Gorski kotar (Croatia) for large mammals

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Abstract

The highway from Zagreb to Rijeka stretches 68.5 km through a wildlife core area in Gorski kotar (Croatia). It has 43 viaducts and tunnels, and one specifically constructed (100 m wide) green bridge (Dedin). One quarter of the total highway length consists of possible crossing structures. At Dedin green bridge, a total of 12,519 crossings have been recorded during 793 different days of active infrared monitors being in operation, or 15.8 crossings per day. Two monitored tunnel overpasses had 11.2 and 37.0 crossings per day, respectively, whilst 4.3 crossings occurred per day under one monitored viaduct. Of those crossings, 83.2% were by ungulates and 14.6% by large carnivores. Radio-tracked large carnivores, brown bear (Ursus arctos), grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), expressed strong positive selection for tunnels and viaducts, whilst avoiding small underpasses or bridges. Selection for the use of Dedin green bridge was equal to its availability. We conclude that this green bridge, constructed as a measure to mitigate the negative effects of the studied highway, served its purpose acceptably. Territorial and dispersing radio-tracked large carnivores crossed the highway 41 times, using both sides of the highway as parts of their home ranges. Overall, the highway in Gorski kotar does not seem to be a barrier. This demonstrates that it is possible to maintain habitat connectivity during the process of planning the highway route.

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Acknowledgement

This study was sponsored by The Croatian Ministry of Science, Euronatur, KEC (Karst Ecosystem Conservation project), Bernd Thies Foundation (Switzerland) and the Croatian Highways company. Special thanks to Denise Taylor and Chris Senior from the UK Wolf Conservation Trust for their help in improving the English of the text. Permission to study the protected species was given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture. We are grateful to numerous students who helped in the field work and data handling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Josip Kusak, Djuro Huber & Tomislav Gomerčić

  2. Oikon, V. Holjevca 20, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Goran Gužvica

  3. Euronatur, Konstanzer Str. 22, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany

    Gabriel Schwaderer

Authors
  1. Josip Kusak
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  2. Djuro Huber
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  3. Tomislav Gomerčić
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  4. Gabriel Schwaderer
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  5. Goran Gužvica
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Correspondence to Josip Kusak.

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Communicated by H. Kierdorf

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Kusak, J., Huber, D., Gomerčić, T. et al. The permeability of highway in Gorski kotar (Croatia) for large mammals. Eur J Wildl Res 55, 7–21 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0208-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0208-5

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