Reactions of Large Groups of Caribou to a Pipeline Corridor on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska

• Main Authors: Walter T. Smith, Raymond D. Cameron
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.539.6976; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic38-1-53.pdf

ABSTRACT. Two large groups of mosquito-harassed caribou (Ransifcr ramndus grant0 were followed for 8-12 h as they repeatedly attempted to cross an elevated pipeline in the Ku @ Development Area near Rudhoe Bay, Alaska. In 1981,46 % of a group of 917 eventually crossed beneath elevated portions of the pipeline in 26 separate attempts, 13 % crossed a section of buried pipe in two attempts, 22 % trotted parallel to the pipeline for 32 km and did not cross, and 19 % separated from the group and were not accounted for. In 1982.26 % of a group of 655 crossed under elevated por-tions of the pipeline in 36attempts, 37 % crossed at a buried section in one att mpt, and 37 % left the main group and could not be Bccounted for. The majority of crossing attempts occurred near intersections of lakes with the road/pipeline complex, but crossing success was highest at a section of buried pipe isolated from road traffic. Key words: caribou, pipeline, petroleum development, insect harassment, Kuparuk Oil Field RIbUMk. Deux groupes de caribous ( h g @ tnmndus granQ tourment & par des moustiques furent suivis pendant de 8B 12heures comme ils ten-taient de traverser un pipe-line 6lev6 dans la rkgion de dcveloppement Kuparuk prbs de la baie Prudhoe, en Alaska. En 1981,4696 d'un groupe de 917 animaux travedrent 6ventuellement pardessous des sections su&Iev&s en 26 tentatives distinctes, 13 % travedrent en deux tentatives B une section de pipe-line ente&, 22 % longbrent au trot le pipe-line sur une distance de 32 km sans le traverser et 19 % se %@arbrent du groupe et ne purent &re retracts. En 1982,26 % d'un groupe de 655 travedrent sous des sections su&lev6es du pipe-line en 36 tentatives, 37 % trave&rent en une seule tentative B une section ente & et 37 % se &parkrent du groupe principal et ne purent &re tetra&. La plupart des tentatives de traverse eurent lieu prtS des croisements de lacs avec les pipe-lines et l e s routes, mais le taux de succts &ait suptrieur IB d les sections de ...