Small animal guidance system for ground-based small animals

Abstract

Small animal guidance system for ground-dwelling small animals, comprising a traffic route VW (2) of a two-way ramp culvert ZRD (7) crossing under it, which extends along a passage for receiving and guiding small animals migrating towards it, in particular amphibians, characterized in that on at least one side of the traffic route (2) in the area in front of the culvert (7) a demarcated, bundling and guiding bundling quarter BQ (4) is arranged and formed on a main crossing axis HQA (3), which defines a central path oriented towards the culvert ZRD (7) at a distance (A) between the bundling quarter (4) and the culvert ZRD (7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a small animal guidance system for ground-dwelling small animals, in particular amphibians and reptiles, for crossing under roads. The crossing consists of a culvert whose length encompasses the entire width of the road, including the road shoulders, for receiving and guiding all migrating small animal species.

[0002] Culverts of this type are structures in the form of small tunnels with a rectangular cross-section. The clear cross-section of the culvert is typically on the order of at least W / H = 1.0 m x 1.0 m. 2. Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to all ground-dwelling small animals, in particular all amphibian and reptile species, small mammals, and ground beetles. These groups of small animal species depend on protected, interconnected, and diverse landscape features with winter habitats, spawning waters, and summer habitats. Road construction and road traffic, in particular, fragment and increasingly isolate these habitats, with the consequence that migrating animals of a population are killed in large numbers on transport routes, especially on heavily and rapidly trafficked roads and railways, and are thus unable to reproduce.

[0004] For this reason, even with moderate traffic volume, countless populations eventually become extinct after just a few years. 3. State of the art

[0005] Countless populations of amphibians and other small animal species are threatened with extinction or have become extinct in large areas of the landscape, partly because very few and only minimally effective small animal guidance systems have been built.

[0006] The "Animal Tunnel with Side Entrance Ramps as a Biotope Connectivity Passage in Traffic Routes," utility model no. 201 00 249.3, registered on June 7, 2001, was planned and supervised by the utility model holder between 2001 and 2006 for seven municipal clients, comprising a total of 37 amphibian and small animal passages within amphibian and small animal guidance systems (AKLA). This included the "Amphibian and Small Animal Guidance System" (AKLA) on the K 28 road near the Holmer Ponds in the town of Buchholz in der Nordheide. This system was expertly assessed for functionality and crossing efficiency and received a high efficiency rating of 77%.

[0007] As part of the "BASt Research Program for Road Engineering FE 02.263 / 2005 / LRB," the "Acceptance of Small Animal Crossings - Influence of Footprint and Microclimate on Successful Crossing" was examined and evaluated at sixteen small animal crossings selected nationwide. The AKLA K28 crossing at Holmer Teicher clearly emerged as the best guidance system with a passage efficiency of 77%. A stilt tunnel on Bruchstraße in Duingen followed in second place with a passage efficiency of 59%. A few other crossings were rated at around 10% efficiency; the remaining crossings, mostly classified as "Other," were not specified.

[0008] The poor conductivity and functionality of the vast majority of existing culverts is due to the unforeseen and consequently disregarded animating guiding functions. The culverts, which often end bluntly on both sides, do not provide these conditions, rendering them completely useless for habitat connectivity and reproduction.

[0009] Rather, culverts require special structural designs that are so stimulating for all amphibian and reptile species that they spontaneously migrate into the culvert and thus quickly reach their intended destination. The entrance and exit components of the culverts determine whether amphibians and other ground-dwelling small animals enter and migrate through them or not. 4. Object of the invention

[0010] The problem lies in the fragmentation of habitats caused by roads and the vehicles and trains that travel on them. According to the "Red List of Schleswig-Holstein," the causes of this endangerment, besides conventional agriculture, are road fatalities, both of roughly equal importance. The fragmentation cannot be adequately addressed or even mitigated by the few existing underpasses, which are largely ineffective. Amphibian and small animal conservation along roads lacks, among other things, a professionally designed, effective system of structures and suitable component designs with key guiding functions to achieve high passage efficiency.

[0011] The object of the invention is to design highly effective and very cost-efficient guidance systems for small animals and to install them, in particular in intersecting roads within habitat networks, in order to prevent the extinction of amphibian and other small animal populations. Due to the already widespread fragmentation of small animal habitats, there is a risk of increasing genetic impoverishment of endangered species, which ultimately leads to the extinction of the population because genetic renewal is lacking.

[0012] More than ever before, it is urgently necessary to restore the connectivity of habitat networks for all ground-dwelling small animal species, especially in areas where roads intersect. Highly efficient small animal guidance systems must be installed as a priority in areas where volunteer efforts have preserved the last remaining small animal populations. Otherwise, these populations will also disappear within a few years. These temporary conservation measures can in no way replace a fully-fledged habitat network. Furthermore, the few remaining amphibian populations are often no longer able to perform this function due to their age. 5. Solution to the task

[0013] The bundling devices are bundling stepping stones or bundling quarters erected on one or both sides of a culvert in the main crossing axis, which are used by small animals during amphibian migrations as quarters to guide and traverse traffic route culverts, often in spring before the last migration route to the spawning waters, or in early summer for migration from the spawning waters to the summer and winter quarters.

[0014] The invention is based on observations and findings, in particular regarding the migratory behavior of amphibians and reptiles, with the result that a bundling quarter leads to a very efficient, particularly effective and cost-effective bundling of amphibians and other small animal species to a location in the main migration axis near the spawning waters in front of a crossing traffic route, thus achieving a successful solution to the problem of amphibian and small animal conservation with only one highly effective passage for an immigration width of several hundred meters.

[0015] According to a main aspect of the invention, the aforementioned problems and requirements are solved by arranging and forming a bundling and guiding bundling quarter on at least one side of the traffic route in the area in front of the passage at a short distance, with a distance provided to the passage. 6. Advantages of the invention (regarding claim 1 / main claim)

[0016] With the inventive system of small animal guidance, the migration of amphibians is concentrated centrally on the main crossing axis by means of bundling quarters erected on one or both sides of the traffic route, which is particularly important for amphibians during the spring spawning migration, so that amphibians and other small animals reach the small animal-friendly passage in the shortest possible way, pass through it due to the very high guiding functions and reach the spawning water safely.

[0017] The main advantages of the invention are that the bundling quarters according to the invention and the small animal guidance system formed thereby provide a solution that is not only highly effective but also very cost-saving compared to the current MAQ standard.

[0018] The "Guideline on the Installation of Crossing Aids for Animals and the Networking of Habitats along Roads (MAQ)," published in 2022 by the German Road and Transportation Research Association (FGSV), continues to name and recommend the same inadequate guiding system techniques that have been known for decades. Underpass spacing of 30 to 50 meters is unnecessary and only increases construction and maintenance costs unnecessarily. Useful recommendations for designing efficient underpass entrances and for concentrating migration flows are lacking.

[0019] In most applications, for biotope network areas with a width of up to 700 meters, only a particularly efficient two-way culvert with lateral protective and guide walls, and possibly also stop channels, needs to be constructed.

[0020] By utilizing knowledge of imprinting patterns, particularly regarding amphibian species, and employing bundling techniques through professionally constructed bundling habitats, as well as supplementary protective and guiding measures on both sides of the transport route, all possibilities exist for restoring safe, wide-open habitat corridors for amphibians and other small animals. This makes an almost 100% continuous habitat network for amphibians and other small animal species possible, even along transport routes. The most significant problems for amphibian and small animal conservation in habitat connectivity along transport routes are thus resolved. A year-by-year increase in the bundling of amphibian and small animal migrations will occur in the areas continuously protected by small animal bundling structures, thereby revitalizing species and populations through the normalization of genetic exchange.

[0021] Extinct populations can be reintroduced, revitalized and permanently preserved in otherwise intact habitats of the biotope network system. 7. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention

[0022] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims and the description of the figures.

[0023] 7.1 A particularly suitable measure consists of providing a bundling quarter at a distance A from the road in a pit of about 1.5 m depth that can be created in the ground and with an area size professionally adapted to the expected number of small animals, with the aim of providing a particularly attractive last winter quarter before the road, called a bundling quarter, for the amphibians and other small animals arriving for their spring migration, for decades to come.

[0024] 7.2 Part of the quality standard includes a largely frost-free design for the burrowing enclosure, using an organic filling material that releases heat over a very long period through decomposition (organic combustion). Small animals need this heat in their winter quarters, making the burrowing enclosure particularly suitable for amphibians and other small animals. The pit is appropriately filled with non-toxic, native, untreated wood (old and fresh tree stumps and trunks, crown wood, etc.), various coarsely shredded native wood materials (branches, shrubs, bushes, etc.), native waste material (bark mulch, shavings and sawdust, weed cuttings, leaves, etc.), and organic topsoil (forest topsoil, natural compost, sod, etc.). Shredded materials are used as a coarsely mixed filling.Preferably, the fill is created in layers with varying structural qualities, uncompacted and without large voids. Advantageously, cover layers are provided, consisting of subsoil up to 50 cm thick and topsoil at least 25 cm thick. These cover layers should preferably originate from the former pit floor. The newly constructed building complex should have a height of 1.5 m above the level of the surrounding terrain.

[0025] 7.3 A preferred design involves the provision of a permanent wildlife barrier fence that securely seals off the grouping area against predators (badger, fox, raccoon dog). Additional anti-climb protection can provide protection, in particular against wolves, raccoons, stone martens, and pine martens.

[0026] The protective enclosure is always designed to be permeable to all types of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. It can be effectively constructed from boulders and heavy tree stumps, forming a largely closed, solid barrier around the grouping area, which also protects against larger predators such as wild boar. This provides additional, significant protection for natural development and helps structure the numerous access areas that will gradually emerge for small animals.

[0027] 7.4 Advantageously, a further aggregation area is preferably established on the side of the road facing the spawning waters, on the main crossing axis. The area of ​​this pond aggregation area is determined based on the expected number of amphibian and other small animal species, and is located as close as possible to the road.

[0028] A naturally designed body of water with a wide shallow water zone and, if possible, year-round water retention is appropriately established, serving as an enticing stepping stone for the migration of adult amphibians to the passage after spawning, but especially also for juvenile amphibians soon after metamorphosis, as a habitat and for intensive imprinting on the passage, which is particularly advantageously designed as a two-way passage.

[0029] 7.5 A particularly effective measure is to establish the pond cluster area as a diverse, naturally designed wetland that complements the existing habitat, featuring a centrally located, year-round unshaded water surface of at least 10 square meters and a water depth of 50 centimeters, as well as a surrounding shallow water zone for native amphibians and other small animal species. This will strongly influence the main crossing axis and, at the same time, the two-way ramp passage.

[0030] 7.6 A particular, independent embodiment of the invention consists in the fact that the culvert is designed as a two-way ramp culvert according to one of claims 15 to 17. Guide walls and subsequently protective walls on both sides of the traffic route, extending to a length equal to the width of the biotope corridor, are expediently provided at the two-way ramp culvert to protect and guide the migration of small animals. This achieves a complete, very well-protected, and particularly effective underpass of the traffic route for ground-dwelling small animals, especially amphibians, reptiles, ground beetles, and small mammals. In combination with a pond-like habitat on the main crossing axis, this provides stimulating support for migration patterns, particularly for juvenile amphibians, during their migration to their summer habitat and onto the two-way ramp culvert.

[0031] 7.7 The two-way ramp passage according to the invention is advantageously designed with entrance and exit ramps, a two-way switch, and bottom moistening. In particular, due to the concentrated migration of amphibians and other small animals of all age classes, simultaneous passage in high density and frequency in both directions is achieved with minimal disturbance and is highly effective using only one two-way passage. 8. Examples of embodiments with reference to drawings 8.1 Further embodiments and details can be seen from the schematic drawings, which are explained with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0032] They show: Fig. 1. A site and functional plan of an exemplary habitat fragmentation of a biotope network axis by a transport route with the following features, system elements and forms: Biotope network width (BVB) 1, Traffic route (VW) 2, Main crossing axis (HQA) 3, Clustering area (BQ) 4, Predator barrier fence (PSZ) 5, Distance A 6, Two-way ramp culvert (ZRD) 7, Pond clustering area (TBQ) 8, Distance B 9, Spawning waters (LG) 10, Culvert portal (DP) 11, Steel-concrete guide wall (SBL) 12, Steel protection wall (SSW) 13, Return migration barrier (RWS) 14, Imprinting area barrier (PRS) 15, Winter quarters (WQ) 16, Summer quarters (SQ) 17, Fig. 2, a longitudinal section A - A in a main transverse axis for the location and functional plan of an exemplary biotope network habitat fragmentation by a traffic route with the following features, system elements and forms: Traffic route (VW) 2, Grouping area (BQ) 4, Predator barrier fence (PSZ) 5, Distance A6, Two-way ramp culvert (ZRD) 7, Pond grouping area (TBQ) 8, Distance B 9, Spawning water (LG) 10, Culvert portal (DP) 11, Steel-concrete barrier (SBL) 12, Winter quarters (WQ) 16, Summer quarters (SQ) 17, Fig. 3, a ground plan of a two-way ramp underpass for the location and functional plan of an exemplary habitat fragmentation with the following features, system elements and shapes: Traffic route (VW) 2, Predator barrier fence (PSZ) 5, Two-way ramp culvert (ZRD) 7, Culvert portal (DP) 11, Steel-concrete barrier (SBL) 12, Steel protective wall (SSW) 13, Lane guide wall (SLW) 18, Two-way switch (ZWW) 19, Main route lane (GWS) 20, Bridge route lane (BWS) 21, Exit lane (AS) 22, Entrance ramp (ER) 23, Exit ramp (AR) 24, Drainage outlet (DA) 25, Drainage inlet (DZ) 26, Culvert wall (DW) 37 Fig. 4, a cross-section B - B of a two-way ramp culvert for the location and functional plan of an exemplary habitat fragmentation with the following features, system elements and shapes: Traffic route (VW) 2, Clearance width D (DB) 36, Clearance wall (DLW) 37, Lane guide wall (SLW) 18, Basic path lane (GWS) 20, Bridge path lane (BWS) 21, Exit lane (AS) 22, Clearance foundation (DF) 27, Clearance height H (DH) 34, Bridge lane height h (BSH) 40. Fig. 5 A section C - C for the location and functional plan of an exemplary habitat fragmentation to the Anwander-bundling quarter with the following features, system elements and forms: Predator barrier fence (PSZ) 5, Pit stepping stone width B (GTB) 28, Over-climbing protection (ÜKS) 29, Under-digging protection (UGS) 30, Organic stepping stone filling (OTB) 31, Pit edge structure (GRS) 32, Stepping stone pit depth T (TGT) 33. 8.2 Description of an exemplary embodiment

[0033] The drawings reveal the following in particular: A two-way ramp passage (ZRD) is formed by passage guide walls (DLW) positioned at least 20 cm above the walking surfaces, creating three directional lanes within the ZRD. It is designed so that amphibians and other small animal species can traverse the ZRD simultaneously in two opposing directions without coming into contact with animals on opposing lanes. For this purpose, a type of two-way switch (ZWW) is located in the central area of ​​the ZRD. This switch intersects the entrance lanes (ES) running laterally along the passage wall DW, with both lanes converging into a common central exit lane (AS).

[0034] The track guide walls (SLW) at the outer exit end are preferably designed as an entry-migration deterrent (EWA) with an inner ramp at least 10 cm high above the surrounding terrain to prevent opposing migration into the exit running surface.

[0035] The two-way switch (ZWW) and the one-way deflector (EWA) can preferably also be designed as prefabricated components.

[0036] Preferably, the clear width and clear height of the ZRD are each at least 1.0 meter, with the passage width being determined on the basis of a professional assessment and determination of the migration volume expected in the future.

[0037] In the remaining subsoil, at least one bottom drain outlet (SDA) is provided in the area of ​​the exit tracks (AS), which is fed with water from a road shoulder with naturally occurring precipitation for the appropriate climate control of the ZRD.

[0038] To shape and protect, in particular, juvenile amphibians, a continuous habitat network, which features the amphibian-small animal guidance system with bundling quarters and two-way ramp passage (AKLA-BQ-ZRD), the width of a habitat axis to be protected (e.g. 500 m) along the transport route is ensured.

[0039] This protection is achieved by providing, advantageously, joint-tightly connected steel-concrete guide walls (SBL) with lower and upper climbing barriers (e.g., according to utility model no. 297 04046.4) on both sides of the traffic route, on both sides at the passage portal (DP) of the ZRD, and also, advantageously, permanent steel protective walls (SSW) with upper climbing barriers, extended to the outer edges of a protected habitat, additionally interrupted as required with stop channels in access roads, and terminated at each end with a suitable protective wall element as a back-migration barrier (RWS).

[0040] On the side of the pond bundling quarter (TBQ), spatial imprinting barriers (PRS) are extended SSW along the outer edges of a protected natural area with a length that is considered and dimensioned by the specialist planner and is finally closed off as before with a return migration barrier.

[0041] The RPS causes a significantly higher number of juvenile amphibians migrating from the spawning waters to remain in the protected habitat of the TBQ and to explore, become familiar with, and eventually traverse the crossing area in front of the ZRD several times for a period of time, so that small animals are more numerous and significantly imprinted on the ZRD even at a juvenile age. 8.3 Reference Symbol List 1 Biotope network width (BVB) 2. Traffic route (VW) 3 Main Crossing Axis (HQA) 4 Bundling Quarter (BQ) 5 Predator barrier fence (PFC) 6 Distance A 7 Two-way ramp culvert (ZRD) 8 Pond Cluster Quarter (TBQ) 9 Distance B 10 spawning waters (LG) 11 Passage Portal (DP) 12 Steel-concrete barrier (SBL) 13 steel protective wall (SSW) 14 Return hiking ban (RWS) 15 Space Imprinting Lock (RPS) 16 Winter Quarters (WQ) 17 Summer Quarter (SQ) 18 lane guide wall (SLW) 19 Two-way switch (ZWW) 20 Basic track (GS) 21 Bridge Lane (BS) 22 Output Track (AS) 23 Entrance Lane (ES) 24 Exit Ramp (AR) 25 Drainage outlet (DA) 26 Drain inlet (DZ) 27 Passage Foundation (DF) 28 Pit stepping stone width B (GTB) 29 Over-climbing protection (OCP) 30 Under-excavation protection (UGS) 31 Organic Stepping Stone (OTB) Filling 32 Pit Edge Structure (GRS) 33 Stepping Stone Pit Depth T (TGT) 34 Clearance height H (DH) 35 Exit ramp (AR) 36 Passage width (DB) 37 Passage wall (DW) 38 Immigration barriers (EWA) 39 Sole Drain Outlet (SDA) 40 Bridge track height h (BSH) QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 201 00 249.3

[0006]

Claims

[1] Small animal guidance system for ground-dwelling small animals, comprising a traffic route VW (2) of a two-way ramp culvert ZRD (7) crossing under it, which extends along a passage for receiving and guiding migrating small animals, in particular amphibians, characterized by , that on at least one side of the traffic route (2) in the area in front of the culvert (7) a demarcated, bundling and guiding bundling quarter BQ (4) is arranged and formed on a main crossing axis HQA (3) which defines a central path oriented towards the culvert ZRD (7) at a distance (A) between the bundling quarter (4) and the culvert ZRD (7). [2] Small animal guidance system according to claim 1, characterized by, that the bundling quarter BQ (4) on the migration side is equipped with a predator barrier fence PSZ (5) as a protective enclosure with anti-climbing protection ÜKS (29), which blocks access by predators endangering the small animals, but is permeable for small animals. [3] Small animal guidance system according to claim 2, characterized by , that the protective enclosure (5) is designed with separate passage areas that form different access areas for the small animals into the bundling quarters (4). [4] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the bundling quarter BQ (4) is formed by a soil pit filled with organic materials (31) in the ground. [5] Small animal guidance system according to claim 4, characterized by, that the fill material (31) is formed by at least one type of material from the group consisting of natural wood, natural waste material, subsoil and topsoil of local origin. [6] Small animal guidance system according to claim 5, characterized by , that the filling material (31) is formed by at least two uncompacted layers of different types of material, which are layered adjacent to each other. [7] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by , that the filling material (31) comprises at least one top-bounding cover layer which has a layer thickness of several decimeters. [8] Small animal guidance system according to claim 7, characterized by , that the material of the cover soil (31) is formed from soil excavated from the created soil pit. [9] Small animal guidance system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by , that a cover floor (31) consists of a subfloor which is preferably up to 50 cm thick. [10] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by , that a cover layer (31) is topsoil that is at least 25 cm thick. [11] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that a bundling quarter is arranged on both sides of the traffic route VW (2), wherein the pond bundling quarter TBQ (8) is arranged on the side of the traffic route (2) on which amphibians migrate after spawning from at least one spawning water (10), wherein the pond bundling quarter TBQ (8) is arranged and set up on the associated main crossing axis HQA (3) at a short distance from the traffic route VW (2) in order to achieve bundling and directing the migration. [12] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by, that on both sides of the traffic route (2) a said bundling quarter (8) is arranged, wherein one bundling quarter is arranged as a migration quarter on the side of the traffic route VW (2) on which amphibians migrate after spawning from at least one spawning area (10), wherein a pond bundling quarter TBQ (8) is arranged and set up on the associated main crossing axis HQA (3) at a short distance from the traffic route VW (2) in order to achieve bundling and directing the migration by being formed by a wetland with a centrally located, year-round unshaded shallow water zone. [13] Small animal guidance system according to claim 12, characterized by that the shallow water zone has an area of ​​at least 10 sq m and a water depth of at least 50 cm for year-round water retention. [14] Small animal guidance system according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by, that on both sides of the traffic route VW (3) at least one spawning water (10) is present or arranged, wherein on the main crossing axis HQA (3) on both sides of the traffic route VW (2) at least one bundling quarter ABQ (4) and at least one pond bundling quarter TBQ (8) is arranged and set up. [15] Small animal guidance system for ground-dwelling small animals, comprising a two-way ramp passage ZRD (7) crossing a traffic route VW (2), which extends along a passage for guiding and directing small animals migrating towards it under the traffic route (2), in particular comprising at least one bundling quarter (4), (8) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by, that the passage (7) is designed as a two-way ramp passage (7) which includes passage lanes (21), (22) extending in opposite longitudinal directions for the counter-rotating, collision-free passage of small animals. [16] Small animal guidance system according to claim 15, characterized by , that passage lanes are formed into oppositely extending exit lanes (22) and entry lanes (23) using lane guide walls (18) with an effective protection height of 20 cm in the passage. [17] Small animal guidance system according to claim 16, characterized bythat the exit lanes (22) and entry lanes (23) are formed by lane guide walls (18), wherein the entry lanes (23) lead laterally along a passage wall (37) into the passage (7) with a clear height H and a clear width B in passage portals (11) on both sides, these lanes each cross each other at different heights in a two-way switch (19) in the center of the passage and merge to form an exit lane (22) of varying width, wherein one direction is provided as the main lane (20) and the other direction as the bridge lane (21), with a bridge lane height h (40) of at least 10 cm, wherein the exit lanes (22) are designed in the center of the passage portal (11) as a wedge-shaped discharge ramp (35) for releasing small animals, such that an outer wedge-shaped The edge is designed to reject small animals ready to migrate. [18] Small animal guidance system according to claim 16 or 17, characterized by, that the two exit lanes AS (22) each have at least one drainage outlet DA (25) formed on the bottom side for moistening the small animal running surfaces (22), which are connected to a drain inlet DZ (26) of a shoulder of the traffic route VW (2) for supply from rainwater.

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