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原文传递 Influence of Thorny Elaeagnus on Automobile-Induced Bird Mortality

题名：	Influence of Thorny Elaeagnus on Automobile-Induced Bird Mortality
作者：	Watts, B. D.; Paxton, B. J.
关键词：	Plants(Botany)##Birds##Mortality##Median barriers##Virginia##Roadside maintenance##Shrubs##Median crossovers##Traffic accidents##Wildlife##Highway design##Surveys##Fruit crops##Conservation##Thorny elaeagnus##
摘要：	Thorny Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus pungens) has been used throughout the southeastern United States as a highway median plant for more than 30 years. Native to Asia, elaeagnus has a number of characteristics that make it ideal for roadside planting. The plant is a heat and drought resistant, evergreen shrub that is fast growing. Because elaeagnus forms a dense, tall hedgerow, it produces an effective divider between opposing lanes of traffic. In the spring of 1999, representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected 459 dead birds along discreet sections of highway near Richmond, Virginia, Roadway sections were adjacent to median plantings of thorny elaeagnus containing dense fruit crops. The objective of this field study was to investigate the possible relationship between median plantings and bird mortality. A simple one-way study design was used with median condition as the single factor. Three median conditions were examined including (1) no median planting, (2) elaeagnus without fruit, and (3) elaeagnus with fruit. Replicate roadway segments containing desired median conditions were surveyed 3 times/week for live and dead birds from mid-March to mid-May. The presence of ripe elaeagnus fruit had a significant influence on both the use of medians by birds and bird mortality. Of 1,270 live birds observed Thorny Elaeagnus (Elaeagnus pungens) has been used throughout the southeastern United States as a highway median plant for more than 30 years. Native to Asia, elaeagnus has a number of characteristics that make it ideal for roadside planting. The plant is a heat and drought resistant, evergreen shrub that is fast growing. Because elaeagnus forms a dense, tall hedgerow, it produces an effective divider between opposing lanes of traffic. In the spring of 1999, representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected 459 dead birds along discreet sections of highway near Richmond, Virginia, Roadway sections were adjacent to median plantings of thorny elaeagnus containing dense fruit crops. The objective of this field study was to investigate the possible relationship between median plantings and bird mortality. A simple one-way study design was used with median condition as the single factor. Three median conditions were examined including (1) no median planting, (2) elaeagnus without fruit, and (3) elaeagnus with fruit. Replicate roadway segments containing desired median conditions were surveyed 3 times/week for live and dead birds from mid-March to mid-May. The presence of ripe elaeagnus fruit had a significant influence on both the use of medians by birds and bird mortality. Of 1,270 live birds observed.
总页数：	26
报告类型：	科技报告