Factors affecting crossing structure use by khulan and goitered gazelle in China

Abstract

Quantifying the utilization of wildlife crossing structures (CSs) requires considering the local population background. This study assessed the effectiveness of 22 CSs based on the abundance of two ungulates (khulan and goitered gazelle) in northwestern China and analyzed variables influencing their usage such as openness, water source, and human activities in drylands. Results showed that there were 7 and 13 CSs with higher performance indices (PRi) for khulan and goitered gazelle, respectively. Khulan favors CSs near water sources and with large openness, while goitered gazelle prefers structures that include ponding and also feature large openness. Factors like distance to the CSs of the railway, predators, and human activities affect the utilization of CSs by goitered gazelle. This study emphasized the importance of designing and managing effective wildlife CSs by focusing on openness and water resources. It is recommended that CSs can be spatially consistent in multiple transportation lines run parallel.