Community-level modelling of boreal forest mammal distribution in an oil sands landscape

Wittische, Julian; Heckbert, Scott; James, Patrick M. A.; Burton, A. Cole; Fisher, Jason T.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142500

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…This could be interpreted as resulting from two processes. First, wolves are cueing in on areas with abundant prey, especially deer: wolf distribution is strongly and positively associated with moose and deer 5 , 19 . Second, deer are either unable to avoid areas with wolves, or do not prioritize risk avoidance, instead prioritizing features that offer abundant resources despite the increased likelihood of encounter with wolves.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the western Nearctic boreal forest, extensive forest harvesting and petroleum extraction have altered landscape shape and composition 17 outside the range of natural variability 18 . These disturbance types cumulatively alter species distributions 5 , 19 and favour generalist species. In particular, white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus, hereby referred to as ‘deer’) have thrived in this rapidly changing landscape as evidenced by the expansion of their northern range limit over the past fifty years, with populations increasing in abundance in areas of high human disturbance 20 – 22 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus, hereby referred to as ‘deer’) have thrived in this rapidly changing landscape as evidenced by the expansion of their northern range limit over the past fifty years, with populations increasing in abundance in areas of high human disturbance 20 – 22 . Historically limited by deep snow, poor quality forage, and cold temperatures, deer are now one of the most pervasive ungulates in western Canada’s boreal forest 5 , 19 , 23 . Deer range expansion is an indirect cause of decline for native subspecies of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) 20 , 24 , acting as apparent competitors by inflating the population size of their shared predator, wolves ( Canis lupus ), thereby increasing predation on caribou 25 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…

Historically limited by deep snow, poor quality forage, and cold temperatures, deer are now one of the most pervasive ungulates in western Canada's boreal forest 5,19,23 . Deer range expansion is an indirect cause of decline for native subspecies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) 20,24 , acting as apparent competitors by inflating the population size of their shared predator, wolves (Canis lupus), thereby increasing predation on caribou 25 .The role of human land-use in sustaining boreal deer populations is attributed to early seral vegetation from forestry cutblocks 18 , petroleum extraction, and transportation networks 26,27 .

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confidence: 99%

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Cumulative effects of human footprint, natural features and predation risk best predict seasonal resource selection by white-tailed deer

Darlington

Ladle

Burton

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Land modified for human use alters matrix shape and composition and is a leading contributor to global biodiversity loss. It can also play a key role in facilitating range expansion and ecosystem invasion by anthrophilic species, as it can alter food abundance and distribution while also influencing predation risk; the relative roles of these processes are key to habitat selection theory. We researched these relative influences by examining human footprint, natural habitat, and predator occurrence on seasonal habitat selection by range-expanding boreal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the oil sands of western Canada. We hypothesized that polygonal industrial features (e.g. cutblocks, well sites) drive deer distributions as sources of early seral forage, while linear features (e.g. roads, trails, and seismic lines) and habitat associated with predators are avoided by deer. We developed seasonal 2nd -order resource selection models from three years of deer GPS-telemetry data, a camera-trap-based model of predator occurrence, and landscape spatial data to weigh evidence for six competing hypotheses. Deer habitat selection was best explained by the combination of polygonal and linear features, intact deciduous forest, and wolf (Canis lupus) occurrence. Deer strongly selected for linear features such as roads and trails, despite a potential increased risk of wolf encounters. Linear features may attract deer by providing high density forage opportunity in heavily exploited landscapes, facilitating expansion into the boreal north.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…

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Cumulative effects of human footprint, natural features and predation risk best predict seasonal resource selection by white-tailed deer

Darlington

Ladle

Burton

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…In particular, linear features cut for petroleum exploration (i.e., seismic lines) have disturbed >1.5 million km 2 of forest and wetlands in northern Alberta and occur at a mean density of 1.5 km/km 2 (Dabros et al., 2018; Lee & Boutin, 2006), contributing to a novel landscape with widespread anthropogenic manipulation and disturbances (Pickell et al., 2015). Extensive coverage of seismic lines and their slow habitat recovery have had varying effects on wildlife species (Fisher & Burton, 2018; Mahon et al., 2019; Wittische et al., 2021). Notably, seismic lines have caused declines in woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus (Hebblewhite, 2017; Hervieux et al., 2013), which are federally listed as threatened in Canada (Canada & Environment Canada, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simultaneous monitoring of vegetation dynamics and wildlife activity with camera traps to assess habitat change

Sun

Beirne

Burgar

et al. 2021

Remote Sens Ecol Conserv

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Vegetation phenology and productivity drive resource use by wildlife. Vegetation dynamics also reveal patterns of habitat disturbance and recovery. Monitoring these fine-scale vegetation patterns over large spatiotemporal extents can be difficult, but camera traps (CTs) commonly used to survey wildlife populations also collect data on local habitat conditions. We used CTs (n = 73) from 2016 to 2019 to assess impacts of habitat change in a boreal landscape of northern Canada, where seismic lines for petroleum exploration disturbed wildlife habitat and prompted vegetation restoration efforts. First, we quantified vegetation dynamics from CTs, comparing them to satellite-based estimates that are typically used to monitor vegetation at broad spatial scales. We then used understory phenology and productivity estimated from CT time-lapse images to assess vegetation recovery on seismic lines. Finally, we related vegetation dynamics with the habitat use of three wildlife species: sandhill cranes Grus canadensis, woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus, and white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. CTs provided unique insight into vegetation dynamics that were different from signals measured by satellites, with temporally inconsistent and even some negative correlations between CT and satellite metrics. We found some indication of vegetation recovery on seismic lines that had received restoration treatment, with understory patterns more similar to undisturbed habitat than to seismic lines that did not receive restoration treatment. CTs also provided inferences about wildlife activity related to vegetation resources, which approaches using satellite data failed to detect. Wildlife habitat use tracked vegetation phenology, but did not always increase with vegetation productivity at weekly, 16-day, or annual intervals. Instead, associations with vegetation productivity depended on species, temporal scale, and productivity metrics. Given the widespread and growing use of CTs to monitor terrestrial wildlife, we recommend their use to simultaneously monitor habitat conditions to better understand the mechanisms that govern wildlife habitat use in changing environments.

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Making sense of wildlife habitat use on active oil sands mines: Quasi‐experiments, occupancy models, trends assessments and upland habitat reclamation

Hawkes,

Gibeau,

Challenger

2024

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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Intensive resource extraction activity in the oil sands of Canada alters the quantity, structure and distribution of native ecosystems, which in turn creates substantive challenges for conservation, land management and habitat reclamation. Progressive reclamation occurs on active mine sites in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR) of Canada, along with concurrent assessments of reclamation effectiveness. Yet, little is known about the ability of reclaimed habitats to mitigate for the short‐ and long‐term impacts associated with open‐pit mines and provide functional habitat for wildlife. We used a robust quasi‐experiment that combined camera trap data from an observational study with an innovative occupancy model to assess the effectiveness of upland reclamation to provide habitat for wildlife in the AOSR. The dynamic occupancy models were applied to 15 years of camera trap data to assess wildlife usage patterns of nine species of wildlife over seven types of habitats. The habitats sampled ranged from mining‐disturbed habitats reclaimed to upland forest ecosites common in the region, habitats disturbed by natural (fire) and human disturbances (clear‐cut logging), with comparisons to mostly intact mature forests. Our results indicate that the nine species of wildlife assessed used habitats in a manner consistent with expectations: some preferred disturbance‐dominated habitats while others used mature forest to a higher degree. We demonstrate that the application of dynamic occupancy models to camera trap data reliably discerned these trends, providing the means to predict wildlife usage patterns in an ever‐changing landscape, including one containing bitumen extraction as a contributor to landscape‐level modifications. Practical implication: Our work illustrates how continued monitoring of wildlife using camera traps contributes to assessments of reclamation effectiveness with respect to wildlife occurrence, distribution and usage patterns in anthropogenically and naturally disturbed landscapes. Evaluating the effectiveness of reclamation is especially important given the expected increase in habitat reclamation on active oil sands mines over the next several decades, coupled with the need to ensure that disturbed habitats regain ecological function able to sustain wildlife in the future.

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Community-level modelling of boreal forest mammal distribution in an oil sands landscape

Cited by 20 publications

References 82 publications

Cumulative effects of human footprint, natural features and predation risk best predict seasonal resource selection by white-tailed deer

Cumulative effects of human footprint, natural features and predation risk best predict seasonal resource selection by white-tailed deer

Simultaneous monitoring of vegetation dynamics and wildlife activity with camera traps to assess habitat change

Making sense of wildlife habitat use on active oil sands mines: Quasi‐experiments, occupancy models, trends assessments and upland habitat reclamation

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