Permeability of roads and railways to vertebrates: The importance of culverts Original Research Article

The movement of vertebrates through 17 culverts under roads and railways in Central Spain was analysed over the course of an annual cycle. Passage was detected for amphibians, lizards, snakes, small mammals, rats, hedgehogs, rabbits and several species of carnivorous mammals, including Felis sylvestris and Genetta genetta. The intensity of animal movement, which varied considerably among the groups, was influenced by various factors such as the culvert dimensions, road width, height of boundary fence, the complexity of the vegetation along the route, and the presence of detritus pits at the entrance of culverts. It is concluded that adequately designed culverts can aid the conservation of vertebrate populations.