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Although Central America is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, booming road construction is driving roadkill mortality that threatens to alter the demography, genetic diversity, and viability of wild mammalian populations. Costa Rica has the highest road density in Central America, but the effectiveness of wildlife crossings in mitigating roadkill mortality has not been assessed with controlled experimental studies. Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge is located along a critical biological corridor bisected by one of the busiest highways in the country. The first wildlife underpasses in Costa Rica were built here in 2010 as part of the expansion of Route 34 and subsequently documented by camera-trap and roadkill surveys. Using a control-impact design, we demonstrate a considerable reduction in wildlife mortality in the presence of the crossing structures compared with controls, with the underpasses and overpasses eventually used by 21 mammalian species. Some species made use of the structures right away, while others took over a year to learn to use them. This is the first controlled study in Central America to document the effectiveness of wildlife crossings and provides evidence that well-designed mitigation structures can contribute to wildlife-friendly roadways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the disproportionate increase and regular fluctuation in the prices of gasoline and crude oils with increase in industrial setup in the U.S. It mentions that the increase in petroleum prices results in increase in inflation rate and reduces the gross national income, and purchasing power of consumers. Also investigated is impact of high oil prices on value of dollars, trade balance, and economic security of the nation.