| dc.description.abstract | A total of 18 reptiles, categorized into 5 families, had been found in this study, and road kills appeared in 15 reptiles of all. The first dominant species was Trimeresurus stejnegeri stejnegeri in this study and the second was Achalinus niger. During the investigation, 7 reptiles named Achalinus niger, Elaphe mandarinus, Elaphe taeniura, Pareas formosensis, Ovophis makazayazaya, Bungarus multicinctus, and Trimeresurus gracilis were ranked as secondary rare species on the List of Wild Animal Reservation.
The reptiles found on Yi Zhuan first road (15 species) were more diversified than those found on Cui Feng forest road (7 species). The active density of reptiles on Yi Zhuan first road averaged 3.69 sights/100 kilometers, while that of Cui Feng forest road was 2.68 sights/100 kilometers. The roadkilled density on Yi Zhuan first road reached 1.94 sights/100 kilometers, while that of Cui Feng forest road was 1.28 sights/100 kilometers. However, the road killed density of rare species was higher on Cui Feng forest road, which was 2.69 times as many as that of Yi Zhuan first road. The reptiles were primarily nocturnal on both Cui Feng forest road and Yi Zhuan first road, but road kills were found more serious during the day. Achalinus niger and Elaphe mandarinus were the two species most seriously affected and nighttime control measures posted on Cui feng forest road were effective for Trimeresurus gracilis, but not for Achalinus niger.
In the analysis of distribution pattern for each of the species, the species and spots of road kills were more scattered and equally distributed along Yi Zhuan first road. On the contrary, three hotspots where road kills peaked were found, which are in sections of 0.0 to 3.0k, 7.4 to 8.6k, and 15.0 to 16.5k along Cui Feng forest road. The section of 0.0 to 3.0k topped with a death toll of 9 in 15 records of rare species, which made this section a hotspot with the most serious casualty.
Reducing driving speed has been an effective way to decrease road kills. An ecological education classroom can be set up at the checking point at the beginning of Cui Feng forest road, where tourists are lectured before they follow the guiding car on to the road. Only after passing the hotspot of section 0.0 to 0.3k was the guiding car withdrawn, thus accomplishing the goal of controlling car speed and reducing the road kills of reptiles. Furthermore, extending the control time of Cui Feng forest road and setting up arresting warning signals and animal passages in each hotspot are also effective ways to reduce the threat of road kills. | en_US |