Roads and macropods: interactions and implications

Abstract. Understanding the impacts of roads on wildlife and the natural environment is of increasing importance. Macropods (mostly kangaroos and wallabies) are a diverse and widespread taxon in Australia that has been significantly affected by the presence of roads in variousways.We reviewed the available literature onmacropods and roads, assessing 60 scientific journal articles, reports and theses. Studies on road mortalities were the most prevalent (n = 29, with 12 on macropods only), revealing both spatial and temporal patterns in occurrence. Behavioural studies in relation to the road environment are limited (n = 2) yet could help our understanding of patterns of road-kill and other impacts. Somemacropod populations are critically affected by the presence of roads (e.g. brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata) due to either proportionatelyhigh roadmortalities and/or population fragmentation, andmay face continueddeclineunless effective road-mitigationmeasures are implemented. Investigations of various types of roadmitigation focussed onwildlife-exclusion fencing and road crossing structures as the most effective option, although the high cost of these measures appears to limit their implementation. Further research into several areaswas identified, particularly on specieswhere severe road impacts are likely to result in population declines