Biodiversity, roads, & landscape fragmentation: Two Mediterranean cases

Our findings indicated a clear relationship between road distance and different plant biodiversity facets, which showed its maximum effect in the first 0-20 m forest-to-road segment and a mitigation after the 200 m threshold. Furthermore, the presence and abundance of many key forest species, such as Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba, were influenced more by the road distance than by other environmental gradients. The few remnants of core forest habitats in the Mediterranean basin highlight the need to recognize that road construction and maintenance have several ecological implications and accordingly require long-term monitoring programs.