Mortality census?

[Grkovich, Alex]

But we all know that roadkills, especially way down south, can sometimes be
an important source of collection matrial. While driving the Florida
highways, a frequent occurrence is for my wife to hear my bellow, "Ljiljana,
stop the car!!!"

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX [SMTP:Norbert.Kondla at gems3.gov.bc.ca]
> Sent:	Thursday, October 25, 2001 11:04 AM
> To:	'burro at panama.gulf.net'; Lepidoptera list
> Subject:	RE: Mortality census?
> 
> Hi May. I have never censused the levels of mortality from vehicle
> collisions but one way to look at this is to realize that this appears to
> be
> an unavoidable source of mortality and that butterflies have high
> reproductive rates to compensate for high mortality. An empirical study
> (Munguira and Thomas 1992) showed that major roads with high traffic
> volumes
> in the UK did not cause significant problems for butterflies.  Mortalities
> from vehicle collisions were insignificant compared to natural factors.
> Wide and busy roads were not a barrier to movement.  Roadsides provided
> important butterfly habitat in a landscape heavily modified by human
> activity.  One of the largest UK populations of a rare butterfly existed
> on
> a patch of roadside habitat.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: burro at panama.gulf.net [mailto:burro at panama.gulf.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 5:58 PM
> To: Lepidoptera list
> Subject: Mortality census?
> 
> 
> I live midway between Panama City and Tallahassee, FL.  Hwy. 231 runs
> north and south and when we moved here in 1989, it was considerably less
> traveled than now.  The rapidly burgeoning population, an avaricious
> Tourist Development Council, short-sighted County Commission and the
> selling of thousands of acres to development via Arvida Realty (St.
> Joseph's Paper Co.) all contribute to an unbelievable traffic flow all
> along this route from Panama City to Dothan, AL.
> 
> When butterflies migrate, they travel west to east across this highway.
> I imagine they will then turn south to peninsula Florida, although many
> Monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries reach the beach areas and are seen flying
> over the Gulf.
> 
> In past years (we have experienced 3 years of severe drought which broke
> this summer), we were thrilled to see so many butterflies, but the
> numbers have diminished greatly over the last three.  Now so few are
> seen, and they are being decimated by being splattered on the hoods and
> windshields of vehicles.
> 
> Is there any way to estimate how many get killed on highways (or one
> specific route)
> at the final destination?
> 
> I know my question is probably very naive, but for me it's a real
> problem, personally.  I wondered what you experts have to say on the
> subject.
> 
> (And by the way, I've been trying to get a public butterfly house here
> for three years!
> No takers.  But Spring Break and MTV rules!  I have all the regulations,
> etc.  No interest at all from county government, but lots from the
> snowbirds and residents.)
> 
> May
> 
> http://www.geocities.com/ovaeasy5944/mayspage
> 
> 
>  
>  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
> 
>    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> 
>    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl 
>  
> 
>  
>  ------------------------------------------------------------ 
> 
>    For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:
> 
>    http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl 
>  

 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl