Abstract Roads and other forms of linear infrastructure are rapidly proliferating worldwide, yet little is known about how roads affect the distribution and abundance of predators, particularly in relatively intact landscapes. We used a combination of motion-sensor cameras and spoor surveys to compare dingo, fox and feral cat activity on unsealed vehicle tracks (hereafter: roads) and up to 3 km away, in relatively intact landscapes of the Great Western Woodlands in south-western Australia. We compared predator activity as indicated by independent sightings and spoor observations, in woodlands and shrublands: vegetation types with contrasting permeabilities. Predator activity was observed between 12 and 261 times more frequently on roads compared with off-road for all species studied. Roads also appeared to affect predator activity up to 2.5 km away. Even poorly formed and abandoned roads concentrated predator activity and affected landscape-scale rates of predator observations. The effect of road proximity on predator activity was non-linear and different between vegetation types for dingoes and cats but not foxes. Our results provide new evidence of the effects of roads on predator activity in surrounding landscapes, with interacting effects of vegetation. They also reinforce previous findings e.g. stronger roads preference displayed by dingoes and foxes, than by cats. Roads and other linear infrastructure have strong effects on predator activity within intact landscapes, although further research is needed to characterise the implications for prey species. Road planning or approvals, as well as habitat restoration programs for threatened species, should account for the effects of roads on predator activity.

中文翻译：

---

车辆轨道是完整景观中的掠夺者高速公路

摘要 道路和其他形式的线性基础设施在全球范围内迅速增加，但人们对道路如何影响捕食者的分布和数量知之甚少，尤其是在相对完整的景观中。我们结合使用运动传感器相机和 spoor 调查来比较未密封的车辆轨道（以下简称为道路）和最远 3 公里外的西南部大西部林地相对完整的景观中的野狗、狐狸和野猫澳大利亚。我们比较了林地和灌木林中独立目击和孢子观察所表明的捕食者活动：具有对比渗透率的植被类型。对于所有研究的物种，与越野相比，在道路上观察到的捕食者活动的频率高出 12 到 261 倍。道路似乎也影响捕食者活动高达 2。5 公里。即使形状不佳和废弃的道路也会集中捕食者的活动并影响捕食者观察的景观尺度率。道路接近度对捕食者活动的影响是非线性的，并且在野狗和猫的植被类型之间不同，但狐狸没有。我们的研究结果为道路对周围景观中捕食者活动的影响以及植被的相互作用提供了新的证据。它们还强化了先前的发现，例如，野狗和狐狸比猫表现出更强的道路偏好。道路和其他线性基础设施对完整景观中的捕食者活动有很强的影响，尽管需要进一步研究来表征对猎物物种的影响。道路规划或批准，以及受威胁物种的栖息地恢复计划，