Roads are a widespread and increasing feature of most landscapes. We reviewed the scientific liter- ature on the ecological effects of roads and found support for the general conclusion that they are associated with negative effects on biotic integrity in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Roads of all kinds have seven general effects: mortality from road construction, mortality from collision with vehicles, modification of animal behavior, alteration of the physical environment, alteration of the chemical environment, spread of exotics, and increased use of areas by humans. Road construction kills sessile and slow-moving organisms, injures organisms adjacent to a road, and alters physical conditions beneath a road. Vehicle collisions affect the demography of many species, both vertebrates and invertebrates; mitigation measures to reduce roadkill have been only partly successful. Roads alter animal behavior by causing changes in home ranges, move- ment, reproductive success, escape response, and physiological state. Roads change soil density, temperature, soil water content, light levels, dust, surface waters, patterns of runoff, and sedimentation, as well as adding heavy metals (especially lead), salts, organic molecules, ozone, and nutrients to roadside environments. Roads promote the dispersal of exotic species by altering habitats, stressing native species, and providing movement corridors. Roads also promote increased hunting, fishing, passive harassment of animals, and landscape modifications. Not all species and ecosystems are equally affected by roads, but overall the pres- ence of roads is highly correlated with changes in species composition, population sizes, and hydrologic and geomorphic processes that shape aquatic and riparian systems. More experimental research is needed to com- plement post-hoc correlative studies. Our review underscores the importance to conservation of avoiding con- struction of new roads in roadless or sparsely roaded areas and of removal or restoration of existing roads to benefit both terrestrial and aquatic biota.

/pdf/review-of-ecological-effects-of-roads-on-terrestrial-and-4pqj0rsd84.pdf

Review of ecological effects of roads on terrestrial and aquatic communities.

Storm water runoff from urban roadways often contains significant quantities of metal elements and solids. These anthropogenic constituents are generated mainly from traffic-related activities. Metal elements partition into dissolved and particulate-bound fractions as a function of pH, pavement residence time, and solids concentration. Lateral pavement sheet flow from an experimental field site on a heavily traveled urban highway in Cincinnati was sampled during five rainfall runoff events in 1995. Results indicate that Zn, Cd, and Cu are mainly in dissolved form while Pb, Fe, and Al are mainly particulate-bound. Dissolved fractions of Zn, Cd, and Cu exhibited a strong first flush in lateral pavement sheet flow. Pb exhibited a weak first flush for all events. Event mean concentrations of Zn, Cd, and Cu exceed surface water quality discharge standards. Findings from this study will assist in the development of effective control strategies for the immobilization of metal elements and solids in urban runoff.

Partitioning and first flush of metals in urban roadway storm water

This survey of the literature on the ecological effects of roads and traffic revealed many articles published over many years in peer reviewed journals. There has also been a growing number of reports on the ecological effects of roads produced by government authorities. Whereas few reports have been published on assessing the ecological impacts, there has been a rapidly growing number of reports on methods for mitigation. Gaps in research include the effects of heavy metal accumulation and the processes and effects resulting from habitat fragmentation. There is a need to assess the effectiveness of underpasses and tunnels and the nature and functioning of buffer zones. A literature database has been assembled and is being updated.

Ecological effects of roads and traffic: a literature review

http://wanko.free.fr/COURS/Ges.eaux%20pluviales/Storm%20water%20runoff%20concentration%20matrix%20for%20urban%20areas.pdf

Storm water runoff concentration matrix for urban areas.

Storm water quality can have a significant impact on receiving water bodies. Two of the major impacts can be to aquatic Ufe in the receiving water body and downstream water users that might use the water as a raw water source for drinking water. With increased understanding of the importance of drinking water quality to public health and the recognition that protecting raw water sources is an integral component of the water treatment process, there is a greater need to identify possible contaminants found in storm water that impact the receiving water quality. Presented is a literature review to identify and quantify contaminant data available on storm water. The article focuses on work that presented specific chemical, physical, and biological parameters rather than the traditionally used overall water quality parameters, such as biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. To assess impacts and to put into perspective the importance of the reported concentrations, values were compared ...

E. Lygren

Papers

Pollution transport from a highway

Effect of highway runoff on lake water quality

Acute toxicity and chemical characteristics of moderately polluted runoff from highways