ELSEVIER 0006-3207(94)00102-2 EFFECT OF ROAD TRAFFIC ON AMPHIBIAN DENSITY

We studied the effect of traffic intensity on local abun-dance of anurans. We counted ead and live frogs and toads per km and estimated frog and toad local abun-dances using breeding chorus intensities on similar roads through similar habitats, but with different levels of traffic intensity. After correcting for effects of date, local habitat, time, and region, our analyses demonstrated that (1) the number of dead and live frogs and toads per km decreased with increasing traffic intensity; (2) the pro-portion o f frogs and toads dead increased with increasing traffic intensity; and (3) the frog and toad density, as measured by the chorus intensity, decreased with increas-ing traffic intensity. Taken together, our results indicate that traffic mortality has a significant negative ffect on the local density of anurans. Our results suggest that recent increases in traffic volumes worldwide are probably contributing to declines in amphibian populations, partic-ularly in populated areas