Small-Mammal Genomics Highlights Viaducts as Potential Dispersal Conduits for Fragmented Populations

TL;DR

This study examines how viaducts affect genetic connectivity in small mammals in Malaysia, finding that they help some species but not others.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness of viaducts in maintaining genetic connectivity in fragmented habitats.

Findings

Viaducts facilitated movement in M. whiteheadi but not in other species.

Genetic distance in viaduct sites was higher than in control sites for three species.

Maintaining intact forests is more effective than relying solely on viaducts.

Abstract

Wildlife crossings are often constructed to enhance genetic connectivity among populations divided by roads (including highways). However, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of viaducts in counteracting the barrier effects imposed by roads. We measured genetic diversity and divergence in four small mammal species commonly found in rainforests in Malaysia—Tupaia glis, Maxomys rajah, M. whiteheadi, and Niviventer cremoriventer—across three treatment types: (1) viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway but connected by a vegetated viaduct; (2) non-viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway and not connected by a viaduct; and (3) control sites, at which there was no road or highway fragmenting the forest. We found that viaducts facilitated movement in small ground-dwelling species such as M. whiteheadi and also when existing highways were relatively wide. However, despite the potential for viaducts to facilitate movement and therefore increase genetic connectivity in M. whiteheadi, the genetic distance in populations at viaduct sites was still greater than at control and/or non-viaduct sites for the other three species. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining intact forests rather than relying solely on the construction of viaducts to connect fragmented populations.

Wildlife crossings are implemented in many countries to facilitate the dispersal of animals among habitats fragmented by roads. However, the efficacy of different types of habitat corridors remains poorly understood. We used a comprehensive sampling regime in two lowland dipterocarp forest areas in peninsular Malaysia to sample pairs of small mammal individuals in three treatment types: (1) viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway but connected by a vegetated viaduct; (2) non-viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway and not connected by a viaduct; and (3) control sites, at which there was no highway fragmenting the forest. For four small mammal species, the common tree shrew Tupaia glis, Rajah’s spiny rat Maxomys rajah, Whitehead’s spiny rat Maxomys whiteheadi and dark-tailed tree rat Niviventer cremoriventer, we used genome-wide markers to assess genetic diversity, gene flow and genetic structure. The differences in genetic distance across sampling settings among the four species indicate that they respond differently to the presence of highways and viaducts. Viaducts connecting forests separated by highways appear to maintain higher population connectivity than forest fragments without viaducts, at least in M. whiteheadi, but apparently not in the other species.

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