这些没有电线的“电线杆”,是拿来飞的
它们真的会用!
90年代,澳大利亚大量修建高速公路,许多公路都修进了野生动物的栖息地。
早在1993年,研究滑翔袋鼯的生态学家罗斯·戈尔丁盖(Ross Goldingay)就曾提议,尝试安装没有电线的电线杆来帮袋鼯过马路。高大的杆子是木制的,杆的顶端还安装了横臂,袋鼯滑翔前可以在横臂上起跳。
然而,这个提议在当时遭到了一些人的怀疑和嘲讽。可惜的是,最初几个滑翔杆上面并没有安装摄像头,因此并没有留下影像记录和证据。为了证明这些滑翔杆的有效性,研究人员在之后的一系列试验中都安装了移动触发摄像机。
相邻的摄像头拍到的许多照片彼此相距不超过2分钟,这证明了袋鼯确实使用了这些杆子。
蜜袋鼯一出生就有翼膜 | Charles Feigin
基因证据表明,当林冠的间隙超出袋鼯的滑翔能力时,滑翔袋鼯的基因流动就被破坏了,并且近亲繁殖的情况也在增加。
促进基因流动
即使是对健康的野生动物种群而言,栖息地被分割、活动范围被限制也会带来诸多问题,例如减少了基因库,限制了觅食、筑巢和繁殖等。
而对于濒危的种群来说,这些造成的影响可能是毁灭性的。气候变化造成的森林大火更是火上浇油。
一只袋鼯爬上滑翔杆 | B. Taylor and R. Goldingay
野生动物地下通道 | Pacific Highway Upgrade
美国北卡罗来纳州的北方鼯鼠也会用滑翔杆 | N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
时隔20年,它们终于可以安全、自由地去见高速公路另一侧的同类了。
参考链接:
[1] Taylor, B. (2023, August 08). Glide poles: the great Aussie invention helping flying possums cross the road. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/glide-poles-the-great-aussie-invention-helping-flying-possums-cross-the-road-209033
[2] Ball, T. M., & Goldingay, R. L. (2008). Can wooden poles be used to reconnect habitat for a gliding mammal? Landscape Urban Plann., 87(2), 140–146. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2008.05.007
[3] Soanes, K., Vesk, P. A., van der Ree, R., Soanes, K., Vesk, P. A., & van der Ree, R. (2015). Monitoring the use of road-crossing structures by arboreal marsupials: insights gained from motion-triggered cameras and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Wildl. Res., 42(3), 241–256. doi: 10.1071/WR14067
[4] Australia, G. (2020, July 28). Making a bridge attractive to animals | Discovery | Gardening Australia. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDvOzeWqPx4
[5] Gliders. (2023, August 08). Retrieved from https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/gliders
[6] Wildlife | Pacific Highway Upgrade. (2023, August 08). Retrieved from https://www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/environment/wildlife-management/wildlife
[7] Mahogany Glider Recovery Project - Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. (2023, May 04). Retrieved from https://wildlife.org.au/project/mahogany-glider-recovery-project
[8] Watchorn, D., & Emerson, L. (2022). Greater gliders are hurtling towards extinction, and the blame lies squarely with Australian governments. Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/greater-gliders-are-hurtling-towards-extinction-and-the-blame-lies-squarely-with-australian-governments-186469
[9] Flying squirrels reunited after 20 years | Earth | EarthSky. (2018, February 21). Retrieved from https://earthsky.org/earth/flying-squirrels-reunited-after-20-years-with-new-road-crossing
[10] Crossing structures reconnect federally endangered flying squirrel populations divided for 20 years by road barrier. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 37(2), 375–379 | 10.1002/wsb.249. (2023, August 09). Retrieved from https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.249
[11] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59374e666a4963c6df22569f/t/59faac7771c10b386ab87091/1509600406866/Goldingay_Glideways_Symposium_Pres1.pdf
[12] Taylor, B. D., Goldingay, R. L., Taylor, B. D., & Goldingay, R. L. (2012). Squirrel gliders use roadside glide poles to cross a road gap. Aust. Mammal., 35(1), 119–122. doi: 10.1071/AM12013
[13] Taylor, B. D., & Goldingay, R. L. (2012). Restoring Connectivity in Landscapes Fragmented by Major Roads: A Case Study Using Wooden Poles as “Stepping Stones” for Gliding Mammals. Restor. Ecol., 20(6), 671–678. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2011.00847.x
[14] Gliders. (2023, August 10). Retrieved from https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/gliders
[15] Feigin, C. (2023, August 10). Marsupials and other mammals separately evolved flight many times, and we are finally learning how. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/marsupials-and-other-mammals-separately-evolved-flight-many-times-and-we-are-finally-learning-how-202152
[16] Animalogic. (2018, November 28). Sugar Glider: The Airborne Marsupial. Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XWu30jDSRo
[17] Proof Australia’s weird telegraph poles work. (2018, July 18). news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site. Retrieved from https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/conservation/proof-glider-poles-are-the-solution-to-australias-highway-crisis/news-story/82e201a2407492b144ce5392a8a79fcc
《环球科学》8月新刊正在热卖
各电商平台均有销售
微信扫码关注该文公众号作者