Predicting hedgehog mortality risks on British roads using habitat suitability modelling.

ABSTRACT: Road vehicle collisions are likely to be an important contributory factor in the decline of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Britain. Here, a collaborative roadkill dataset collected from multiple projects across Britain was used to assess when, where and why hedgehog roadkill are more likely to occur. Seasonal trends were assessed using a Generalized Additive Model. There were few casualties in winter-the hibernation season for hedgehogs-with a gradual increase from February that reached a peak in July before declining thereafter. A sequential multi-level Habitat Suitability Modelling (HSM) framework was then used to identify areas showing a high probability of hedgehog roadkill occurrence throughout the entire British road network (∼400,000 km) based on multi-scale e

SUBMITTER: Wright PGR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6979406 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature