Sub-lethal effects of energy development on a migratory mammal—The enigma of North American pronghorn

Beckmann, Jon P.; Olson, Sarah H.; Seidler, Renee G.; Berger, Joël

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2016.02.001

Cited by 14 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Although natural gas development may have a demonstrated effect on resource selection in pronghorn (Beckmann et al , Seidler et al ), like other studies (Beckmann et al , ), we did not detect an influence of density of or proximity to oil and natural gas wells on mortality risk of adult female pronghorn. However, any negative influences of oil and natural gas development on pronghorn fitness may lag behind the observed behavioral changes in resource selection and movement associated with this infrastructure (Beckmann et al ), in which case such demographic effects would not be detected except over a longer monitoring period.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 64%

“…Such development and its associated infrastructure has, for example, caused reduced survival of adult females (Holloran 2005) and lek attendance by males (Gregory and Beck 2014) in greater sage-grouse and increased avoidance of developed areas by mule deer (Sawyer et al 2006) and elk (Buchanan et al 2014). Although natural gas development may have a demonstrated effect on resource selection in pronghorn (Beckmann et al 2012, Seidler et al 2015, like other studies (Beckmann et al 2008(Beckmann et al , 2016, we did not detect an influence of density of or proximity to oil and natural gas wells on mortality risk of adult female pronghorn. However, any negative influences of oil and natural gas development on pronghorn fitness may lag behind the observed behavioral changes in resource selection and movement associated with this infrastructure (Beckmann et al 2016), in which case such demographic effects would not be detected except over a longer monitoring period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

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Intrinsic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors related to pronghorn summer mortality

Reinking¹,

Smith²,

Monteith

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are an iconic wildlife species of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) and grassland ecosystems in western North America. Over 50% of pronghorn have historically occurred in Wyoming; however, these populations have declined by nearly 30% in <2 decades, concurrent with expanding energy development and prolonged drought. Research suggests adult female pronghorn, unlike other temperate ungulates, are more likely to die in summer, when body condition is lower from extreme energetic demands of reproduction, which are higher for pronghorn than other ungulates. To evaluate the potential effects of intrinsic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors on summer mortality risk, we monitored 114 adult female pronghorn equipped with global positioning system transmitters in the Red Desert region of south‐central Wyoming, USA between 2013 and 2015. We modeled mortality risk using Cox's proportional hazards regression. Summer mortality risk was influenced by intrinsic and environmental factors; mortality risk increased when individuals were in poorer body condition entering the previous winter and when they experienced greater variation in average daily snow depth during the previous winter. We did not detect an effect of the distance to and density of roads, oil and gas wells, or fences on pronghorn summer mortality. During years of increased winter severity with deep and fluctuating snow depths, managers may observe higher winter mortality and higher mortality the following summer, likely as a consequence of the energetic expense associated with winter survival and spring reproduction for female pronghorn. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 64%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Intrinsic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors related to pronghorn summer mortality

Reinking¹,

Smith²,

Monteith

et al. 2018

J Wildl Manag

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“…Furthermore, except for during the early construction phase, human activity on well pads is intermittent and may not disturb pronghorn to the extent required to elicit an avoidance response (although see Beckmann et al ). Whether or not oil and gas infrastructure reflects an ecological trap for pronghorn is unknown; however, a recent study in the Greater Yellowstone region found no difference in pregnancy, chronic stress, immune function, body mass, or adult survival between pronghorn occurring near and far from natural gas fields (Beckmann et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pronghorn resource selection and habitat fragmentation in North Dakota

2016

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Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in North Dakota have experienced habitat fragmentation due to agricultural practices, roads, and oil development. We analyzed patterns of female pronghorn habitat selection in 2006 and 2014, years with contrasting pronghorn density and oil production in western North Dakota. We quantified resource selection and fawn:female ratios relative to proximity to active wells, road density, land cover, development, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and agricultural practices. We also assessed patterns of well placement relative to the same environmental variables. Pronghorn selected sagebrush and areas with low NDVI but avoided developed areas, roads, forests, and wetlands. Pronghorn selected areas close to oil and gas wells because wells were located in high‐value habitats (e.g., native sagebrush‐steppe ecosystems selected by pronghorn). For the majority of variables tested, selection was stronger when pronghorn density was low, consistent with current resource selection theory. Although females selected relatively open habitats, fawn:female ratios within areas selected by females were positively correlated with NDVI. Our results demonstrate that pronghorn avoid human development and roads but not oil and gas wells. Although wells are not actively avoided by pronghorn, their placement in high‐value habitat for this species leads to significant habitat fragmentation. In light of these results, we recommend efforts to conserve pronghorn habitat such as constructing wells away from sagebrush, using existing roads to service newly constructed wells, and re‐vegetating well pads with sagebrush plantings once they are no longer in use. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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“…and grassland basins of the Intermountain West-a region that has been dramatically affected by energy development in recent decades (Jones, Pejchar, & Kiesecker, 2015;Leu, Hanser, & Knick, 2008). Less attention has been given to broad-scale energy development and habitat alteration at the interface of sagebrush habitats and pronghorn populations (Beckmann, Murray, Seidler, & Berger, 2012;Beckmann, Olson, Seidler, & Berger, 2016). The concerted efforts around sage-grouse and mule deer have provided extensive knowledge on avoidance behavior, population-level impacts, and mitigation strategies for those species (Naugle, 2011;Northrup & Wittemyer, 2013;Sawyer et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concerted efforts around sage-grouse and mule deer have provided extensive knowledge on avoidance behavior, population-level impacts, and mitigation strategies for those species (Naugle, 2011;Northrup & Wittemyer, 2013;Sawyer et al, 2017). Less attention has been given to broad-scale energy development and habitat alteration at the interface of sagebrush habitats and pronghorn populations (Beckmann, Murray, Seidler, & Berger, 2012;Beckmann, Olson, Seidler, & Berger, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term effects of energy development on winter distribution and residency of pronghorn in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Sawyer

Beckmann

Seidler

et al. 2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

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An increasing global demand for energy assures continued disturbance to previously undeveloped landscapes, but understanding broader impacts to wildlife remains elusive. Among groups of species most vulnerable to habitat disruption are those requiring large tracts of land. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are an obligate to the open plains and basins that, similar to other transcontinental large herbivores, rely primarily on habitats where development of energy resources such as oil, natural gas, coal, wind, and solar are intensifying. To understand behavioral response to a burgeoning energy development project, we evaluated avoidance, displacement, and winter residency patterns of pronghorn in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem across a 15-year period using 171 collared individuals. Distance from natural gas well pads increased through time and was concurrent with declines in winter residency. Between 2005 and 2017, we found that (a) pronghorn avoidance of well pads likely increased by 408 m, (b) the overall displacement of pronghorn relative to well pads in the final year of study increased by 800 m, (c) the time pronghorn spent in the study area was reduced by 22% (nearly 1 month), and (d) the percentage of pronghorn leaving the study area increased by 57%. Such directional changes signal a strong behavioral response of an open-plain obligate to energy infrastructure, and together, these metrics indicate that pronghorn response to energy development involves both avoidance of infrastructure and partial abandonment of their traditional winter ranges. While comparable long-term data sets are generally unavailable for other functionally equivalent ungulate groups in similar ecological topographies of Asia, Africa, and South America, our study may serve as a reasonable surrogate and highlights that behavioral changes elicited from energy development which at first appear subtle can proliferate and may portend demographic consequences. K E Y W O R D SAntilocapra americana, avoidance, disturbance, indirect habitat loss, winter range

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Sub-lethal effects of energy development on a migratory mammal—The enigma of North American pronghorn

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

Intrinsic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors related to pronghorn summer mortality

Intrinsic, environmental, and anthropogenic factors related to pronghorn summer mortality

Pronghorn resource selection and habitat fragmentation in North Dakota

Long‐term effects of energy development on winter distribution and residency of pronghorn in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

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