Roads as ecological traps for giant anteaters

• Published in: Animal conservation 2022-04, Vol.25 (2), p.182-194
• Main Authors: Noonan, M. J., Ascensão, F., Yogui, D. R., Desbiez, A. L. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Driving ability; ecological trap; Ecology; Economics; fencing; giant anteater; GPS Tracking; Highways; Home range; Local population; Mortality; movement ecology; Myrmecophaga; roadkill; Roads; Roads & highways; Roadsides; Sex differences; Traffic speed; Traffic volume; Wildlife; Wildlife habitats; wildlife‐vehicle collisions
• ISSN: 1367-9430; 1469-1795
• DOI: 10.1111/acv.12728

Wildlife‐vehicle collisions (WVCs) represent a serious source of mortality for many species, threatening local populations’ persistence while also carrying high economic and human safety costs. Animals may adapt their behaviour to road‐associated threats, but roadside resources can also attract individuals to dangerous roadside habitats, ultimately acting as an ecological trap. Yet, the extent to which individuals modify their behaviour and space use to roads is largely unknown for most taxonomic groups. Using fine‐scale movement data from 38 giant anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla tracked in the Brazilian Cerrado, we aimed to identify facets of movement behaviour that might exhibit plasticity to roads and traffic volume. Specifically, the analysis of daily and instantaneous movement speeds, home‐range characteristics and crossing rates/times allowed us to test for an effect of road proximity, traffic volume and natural linear features on movement behaviour. We found no effect of road proximity or traffic volume on space use or movement behaviour. While individuals tended to reduce their movement speed when approaching roads and crossed roads ~3 times less than would have been expected by random chance, none of the three highways we monitored were impervious. The majority of tracked anteaters living near roads (