PERMEABILITY OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS TO VERTEBRATES - THE IMPORTANCE OFCULVERTS

The movement of vertebrates through 17 culverts under roads and railwa ys in Central Spain was analysed over the course of an annual cycle. P assage was detected for amphibians, lizards, snakes, small mammals, ra ts, hedgehogs, rabbits and several species of carnivorous mammals, inc luding Felis sylvestris and Genetta genetta. The intensity of animal m ovement, which varied considerably among the groups, was influenced by various factors such as the culvert dimensions, road width, height of boundary fence, the complexity of the vegetation along the route, and the presence of detritus pits at the entrance of culverts. It is conc luded that adequately designed culverts can aid the conservation of ve rtebrate populations.