A central goal of transportation is the delivery of safe and efficient services with minimal environmental impact. In practice, though, human mobility has flourished while nature has suffered. Awareness of the environmental impacts of roads is increasing, yet information remains scarce for those interested in studying, understanding, or minimizing the ecological effects of roads and vehicles.
Road Ecology addresses that shortcoming by elevating previously localized and fragmented knowledge into a broad and inclusive framework for understanding and developing solutions. The book brings together fourteen leading ecologists and transportation experts to articulate state-of-the-science road ecology principles, and presents specific examples that demonstrate the application of those principles. Diverse theories, concepts, and models in the new field of road ecology are integrated to establish a coherent framework for transportation policy, planning, and projects. Topics examined include:
foundations of road ecology
roads, vehicles, and transportation planning
vegetation and roadsides
wildlife populations and mitigation
water, sediment, and chemical flows
aquatic ecosystems
wind, noise, and atmospheric effects
road networks and landscape fragmentationRoad Ecology links ecological theories and concepts with transportation planning, engineering, and travel behavior. With more than 100 illustrations and examples from around the world, it is an indispensable and pioneering work for anyone involved with transportation, including practitioners and planners in state and province transportation departments, federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. The book also opens up an important new research frontier for ecologists.
Foreword \ Thomas B. Deen Preface Acknowledgments The Metric System in North America
PART I. Roads Vehicles and Ecology Chapter 1. Foundations of Road Ecology Chapter 2. Roads Chapter 3. Vehicles and Planning
PART II. Vegetation and Wildlife Chapter 4. Roadsides and Vegetation Chapter 5. Wildlife Populations Chapter 6. Mitigation for Wildlife
PART III. Water, Chemicals and Atmosphere Chapter 7. Water and Sediment Flows Chapter 8. Chemicals along Roads Chapter 9. Aquatic Ecosystems Chapter 10. Wind and Atmospheric Effects
PART IV. Road Systems and Further Perspectives Chapter 11. Road Systems Linked with the Land Chapter 12. The Four Landscapes with Major Chapter 13. Roads and Vehicles in Natural Landscapes Chapter 14. Further Perspectives
Bibliography About the Authors Index
"…this volume focuses on bringing together information from disparate fields into a coherent framework, accessible to transportation planners as well as ecologists."
