Construction is underway along Corridor Q, a 14-mile section of highway in Southwest Virginia that will open to traffic in stages from 2023 to 2027. Preliminary data indicated that a newly established reintroduced herd of elk regularly travels on and alongside the partially constructed road. The purpose of this study was to determine potential design, placement, costs, and funding opportunities for wildlife crossing structures on Corridor Q should the decision be made to pursue this option to reduce the potential risk for elk-vehicle collisions. A criteria-based method was applied to 0.5-mile road segments to determine suitable locations for a series of crossing structures. Evaluated criteria included elk location data, surrounding land use, landscape features that encourage elk movement, roadside topography for cost-effective structure placement, and structure spacing decisions. Elk location data were obtained from 12 collared female elk in the “Corridor Q herd” (hereinafter “Corridor Q elk”). These locations were evaluated to determine elk use of the road segments, home range sizes and locations relative to the road, and habitat selection probability. Findings indicated that the use of the landscape by the elk herd has been shaped by the construction of Corridor Q. Approximately 38 percent of the 26,659 locations of the collared elk were within 200 meters of the nearly completed road sections, which provide elk an efficient means of travel to preferred habitat that is abundant along the roadside. Home ranges of all 12 collared elk overlapped with portions of Corridor Q road segments. Home ranges were shaped similarly to the partially constructed sections of Corridor Q, indicating the elk’s heavy use of the road to access preferred areas of habitat on both sides of the corridor. Distance to barren land, herbaceous cover, and shrub cover had the largest influence on elk habitat selection, all of which are a product of road construction and are distributed linearly along the roadway. Construction costs per wildlife crossing structure and associated fencing were estimated to be 5 .5 to 5 .7 million dollars. If funding were pursued for wildlife crossing construction, contingency costs and inflation would raise the estimate to a range of 8 .2 million dollars (for a bid year of 2025) to 9 .8 million dollars (for a bid year of 2028). With an average elk crash valued at 8 0,771 dollars and a deer crash at 4 1,338 dollars, 2.8 elk crashes or 5.4 deer crashes per year would have to be avoided per structure for the crash reduction benefits to begin exceeding the cost of a structure and fencing. This study demonstrated an effective means of incorporating both quantitative elements and qualitative considerations into wildlife crossing design, placement, and cost considerations. If wildlife crossings are pursued for Corridor Q, the study recommends that the Virginia Department of Transportation consider the structure design and location options provided in this report.

Human actions are fragmenting habitats throughout the world. To address this problem, conservationists have set up biological corridors, areas of land set aside to facilitate the movement of species and ecological processes. This book offers an overview of the design and effectiveness of these corridors.

The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats is one of the major issues in wildlife management and conservation. Habitat "corridors" are sometimes proposed as an important element within a conservation strategy. Examples are given of corridors both as pathways and as habitats in their own right. Includes detailed reviews of principles relevant to the design and management of corridors, their place in regional approaches to conservation planning, and recommendations for research and management.

A respected resource for decades, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been updated by a committee of experts, taking into consideration input from the scientific and laboratory animal communities and the public at large. The Guide incorporates new scientific information on common laboratory animals, including aquatic species, and includes extensive references. It is organized around major components of animal use: Key concepts of animal care and use. The Guide sets the framework for the humane care and use of laboratory animals. Animal care and use program. The Guide discusses the concept of a broad Program of Animal Care and Use, including roles and responsibilities of the Institutional Official, Attending Veterinarian and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Animal environment, husbandry, and management. A chapter on this topic is now divided into sections on terrestrial and aquatic animals and provides recommendations for housing and environment, husbandry, behavioral and population management, and more. Veterinary care. The Guide discusses veterinary care and the responsibilities of the Attending Veterinarian. It includes recommendations on animal procurement and transportation, preventive medicine (including animal biosecurity), and clinical care and management. The Guide addresses distress and pain recognition and relief, and issues surrounding euthanasia. Physical plant. The Guide identifies design issues, providing construction guidelines for functional areas; considerations such as drainage, vibration and noise control, and environmental monitoring; and specialized facilities for animal housing and research needs. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals provides a framework for the judgments required in the management of animal facilities. This updated and expanded resource of proven value will be important to scientists and researchers, veterinarians, animal care personnel, facilities managers, institutional administrators, policy makers involved in research issues, and animal welfare advocates.

Winner of the IENE Project Award 2016. This authoritative volume brings together some of the world’s leading researchers, academics, practitioners and transportation agency personnel to present the current status of the ecological sustainability of the linear infrastructure – primarily road, rail and utility easements – that dissect and fragment landscapes globally. It outlines the potential impacts, demonstrates how this infrastructure is being improved, and how broad ecological principles are applied to mitigate the impact of road networks on wildlife. Research and monitoring is an important aspect of road ecology, encompassing all phases of a transportation project. This book covers research and monitoring to span the entire project continuum – starting with planning and design, through construction and into maintenance and management. It focuses on impacts and solutions for species groups and specific regions, with particular emphasis on the unique challenges facing Asia, South America and Africa. Other key features: Contributions from authors originating from over 25 countries, including from all continents Each chapter summarizes important lessons, and includes lists of further reading and thoroughly up to date references Highlights principles that address key points relevant to all phases in all road projects Explains best-practices based on a number of successful international case studies Chapters are "stand-alone", but they also build upon and complement each other; extensive cross-referencing directs the reader to relevant material elsewhere in the book Handbook of Road Ecology offers a comprehensive summary of approximately 30 years of global efforts to quantify the impacts of roads and traffic and implement effective mitigation. As such, it is essential reading for those involved in the planning, design, assessment and construction of new roads; the management and maintenance of existing roads; and the modifying or retrofitting of existing roads and problem locations. This handbook is an accessible resource for both developed and developing countries, including government transportation agencies, Government environmental/conservation agencies, NGOs, and road funding and donor organisations.

This is the New York State edition of the GIC's guide to evaluating and conserving green infrastructure (GI) across the landscape. It provides an historical background to GI, as well as practical steps for creating GI maps and plans for a community. It discusses issues around evaluating green assets, public involvement in the mapping process, and the practical steps in bringing together GIS information into a useful format. It draws from twelve field tests GIC has conducted over the past six years in a diversity of ecological and political conditions, at multiple scales, and in varied development patterns – from wildlands and rural areas to suburbs, cities and towns. This guide is intended to help people make land management decisions which recognize the interdependence of healthy people, strong economies and a vibrant, intact and biologically diverse landscape. Green infrastructure consists of our environmental assets – which GIC also calls ‘natural assets’ – and they should be included in planning processes. Planning to conserve or restore green infrastructure ensures that communities can be vibrant, healthful and resilient. Having clean air and water, as well as nature-based recreation, attractive views and abundant local food, depends upon considering our environmental assets as part of everyday planning. Available from GIC at www.gicinc.org.