Risk response towards roads is consistent across multiple species in a temperate forest ecosystem

Roads can have diverse impacts on wildlife species, and while some species
may adapt effectively, others may not. Studying multiple species’
responses to the same infrastructure in a given area can help understand
this variation and reveal the effects of disturbance on the ecology of
wildlife communities. This study investigates the behavioural responses of
four species with distinctive ecological and behavioural traits to roads
in the protected Bohemian Forest Ecosystem in Central Europe: European roe
deer (Capreolus capreolus), a solitary herbivore; red deer (Cervus
elaphus) a gregarious herbivore; wild boar (Sus scrofa), a gregarious
omnivore and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), a solitary large carnivore. We
used GPS data gathered from each species to study movement behaviour and
habitat selection in relation to roads using an integrated step selection
analysis. For all species and sexes, we predicted increased movement rates
in response to roads, selection of vegetation cover near roads and open
areas after road crossings, and increased road avoidance during the day.
We found remarkably similar behavioural responses towards roads across
species. The behavioural adaptations to road exposure, such as increased
movement rates and selection for vegetation cover, were analogous to
responses to natural predation risk. Roads were more strongly avoided
during daytime, when traffic volume was high. Road crossings were more
frequent at twilight and at night within open areas offering food
resources. Gregarious animals exposed to roads favoured stronger road
avoidance over faster movements. Ungulates crossed roads more at twilight,
coinciding with commuter traffic during winter. Despite differences in the
ecology and behaviour of the four species, our results showed similar
adaptations towards a common threat. These insights can be used by
managers to promote safer road crossings where roads interfere with
animals' natural behaviour. The continuous expansion of the global
transportation network should be accompanied by efforts to understand and
minimise the impact of roads on wildlife to assist wildlife management and
ensure conservation.