Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou
We investigated changes in distribution and terrain use of calving barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) with increasing density of roads in the Kuparuk Development Area, an oil-field region near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. In June of 1987-1992, caribou density, as determined by aerial surveys,...
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Canadian Science Publishing
1998
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-078 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-078 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z98-078 2024-09-15T18:31:36+00:00 Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou Nellemann, C Cameron, R D 1998 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-078 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-078 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 76, issue 8, page 1425-1430 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1998 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z98-078 2024-07-18T04:13:32Z We investigated changes in distribution and terrain use of calving barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) with increasing density of roads in the Kuparuk Development Area, an oil-field region near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. In June of 1987-1992, caribou density, as determined by aerial surveys, was inversely related to road density, declining by 63% at >0.0-0.3 km road/km 2 and by 86% at >0.6-0.9 km road/km 2 . The latter road density virtually excluded cow-calf pairs. Effects of avoidance were most apparent in preferred rugged terrain, comprising important habitats for foraging during the calving period. Our results show that (i) females and calves are far more sensitive to surface development than adult males and yearlings, (ii) the greatest incremental impacts are attributable to initial construction of roads and related facilities, and (iii) the extent of avoidance greatly exceeds the physical "footprint" of an oil-field complex. A disproportionate reduction in use of foraging habitats within the Kuparuk Development Area, combined with decreasing tolerance of the expanding industrial complex, may explain the recent displacement of some calving activity to areas farther inland, and, in part, lower fecundity. Possible consequences include heightened competition for forage, increased risk of predation, and lower productivity of the herd. Article in Journal/Newspaper Prudhoe Bay Rangifer tarandus Alaska Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 76 8 1425 1430 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
We investigated changes in distribution and terrain use of calving barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) with increasing density of roads in the Kuparuk Development Area, an oil-field region near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. In June of 1987-1992, caribou density, as determined by aerial surveys, was inversely related to road density, declining by 63% at >0.0-0.3 km road/km 2 and by 86% at >0.6-0.9 km road/km 2 . The latter road density virtually excluded cow-calf pairs. Effects of avoidance were most apparent in preferred rugged terrain, comprising important habitats for foraging during the calving period. Our results show that (i) females and calves are far more sensitive to surface development than adult males and yearlings, (ii) the greatest incremental impacts are attributable to initial construction of roads and related facilities, and (iii) the extent of avoidance greatly exceeds the physical "footprint" of an oil-field complex. A disproportionate reduction in use of foraging habitats within the Kuparuk Development Area, combined with decreasing tolerance of the expanding industrial complex, may explain the recent displacement of some calving activity to areas farther inland, and, in part, lower fecundity. Possible consequences include heightened competition for forage, increased risk of predation, and lower productivity of the herd. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nellemann, C Cameron, R D |
spellingShingle |
Nellemann, C Cameron, R D Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
author_facet |
Nellemann, C Cameron, R D |
author_sort |
Nellemann, C |
title |
Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
title_short |
Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
title_full |
Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
title_fullStr |
Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
title_sort |
cumulative impacts of an evolving oil-field complex on the distribution of calving caribou |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1998 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-078 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z98-078 |
genre |
Prudhoe Bay Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
genre_facet |
Prudhoe Bay Rangifer tarandus Alaska |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 76, issue 8, page 1425-1430 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z98-078 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
76 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1425 |
op_container_end_page |
1430 |
_version_ |
1810473307914371072 |