Influence of sub-urban highway underpasses on animals in Chongming Island, Shanghai

Building wildlife corridors is thought to be a useful strategy for reducing the negative effects of road construction. However, the wildlife corridors currently built are mainly set up for medium-sized or large wild mammals in the wilderness, while there are relatively few constructions for small animal corridors in urban areas. In this study, we assessed the use of two underpasses on the Beiyan Highway of Chongming Island, Shanghai. We recorded 27 species of animals in a total of 385 events, and 8 species successfully passed through the underpasses. The most frequent animal species recorded in the two corridors were weasels and white-breasted waterhens respectively, followed by both rodents. Overall, mammals and aves frequented the underpasses the most, and their time spent there matched their routines. Our study suggests that local wildlife has successfully used the two underpasses in a variety of ways, but longer-term monitoring is still required.