Road mortality in Toronto and region: The utility and need for wildlife passages in a fragmented landscape

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) jurisdiction is one of the most densely populated watersheds in Canada, where the urban area now accounts for close to half of the land cover in the region. The conversion of land from natural to urban area, such as roads, contributes to the loss and fragmentation of habitat, which is a major driver of biodiversity declines. This project investigates the potential of various passage structures that can mitigate these impacts and assesses the need for strategic wildlife crossings. The scope of the project aims to develop a systematic field method to (i) assess the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures (e.g., fencing, passages) in TRCA’s jurisdiction and (ii) identify specific locations at pilot sites for mitigation measures to reduce road mortality and improve connectivity. Ultimately the goal is to reduce biodiversity declines, where species can support functioning and healthy ecosystems within the urban environment.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dennis Murray

Student:

Partner:

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (Toronto, ON)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Public administration

University:

Trent University

Program: