AMPHIBIAN MIGRATION MONITORING THROUGH NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TUNNELS

The installation of tunnels near Podkraj marks a significant step in mitigating amphibian road mortality. These tunnels, along with permanent fences and other protective measures, were constructed this summer to address a known amphibian blackspot along a 2-kilometer section of road. Our research from 2020 estimated that over 44,000 amphibians were killed on this stretch during 27 spring nights, with an additional 2,500 fatalities recorded over five autumn nights. These alarming figures underscored the urgency of implementing effective mitigation strategies.

Initial monitoring of the amphibian migration has yielded promising results. Inspections of the tunnels and fencing have documented a significant number of amphibians from various species utilizing the crossings, with minimal roadkill observed. Among the species recorded, smooth newts were the most prevalent, accompanied by brown and green frogs, the common toads, the European tree frogs, and both alpine and Italian crested newts.

This monitoring effort represents the preliminary phase of assessing the effectiveness of the newly installed measures. A more comprehensive evaluation is scheduled in the future, during which amphibian movements will be tracked across two spring and two autumn migrations. Similar monitoring will also be conducted in other areas where mitigation measures are being implemented as part of the LIFE AMPHICON project. These efforts will provide critical insights into the long-term success of these interventions in reducing amphibian road mortality.

Photo: J. Tarman