The Landscape Impact of Linear Seismic Clearings for Oil and Gas Development in Boreal Forest

Pattison, Colin A.; Quinn, Michael S.; Dale, Pat; Catterall, Carla

doi:10.3955/046.090.0312

Cited by 55 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…In many forested systems, linear features (LFs) associated with industrial activity are a ubiquitous form of landscape disturbance (Laurance, Goosem, & Laurance, 2009;Pattison, Quinn, Dale, & Catterall, 2016). Such features include roads, railways, power lines, pipelines and seismic lines.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nowhere to hide: Effects of linear features on predator–prey dynamics in a large mammal system

DeMars

Boutin

2017

Journal of Animal Ecology

114

125

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Abstract1. Rapid landscape alteration associated with human activity is currently challenging the evolved dynamical stability of many predator-prey systems by forcing species to behaviourally respond to novel environmental stimuli.2. In many forested systems, linear features (LFs) such as roads, pipelines and resource exploration lines (i.e. seismic lines) are a ubiquitous form of landscape alteration that have been implicated in altering predator-prey dynamics. One hypothesized effect is that LFs facilitate predator movement into and within prey refugia, thereby increasing predator-prey spatial overlap.3. We evaluated this hypothesis in a large mammal system, focusing on the interactions between boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and their two main predators, wolves (Canis lupus) and black bears (Ursus americanus), during the calving season of caribou. In this system, LFs extend into and occur within peatlands (i.e. bogs and nutrient-poor fens), a habitat type highly used by caribou due to its refugia effects.4. Using resource selection analyses, we found that LFs increased predator selection of peatlands. Female caribou appeared to respond by avoiding LFs and areas with high LF density. However, in our study area, most caribou cannot completely avoid exposure to LFs and variation in female response had demographic effects. In particular, increasing proportional use of LFs by females negatively impacted survival of their neonate calves. 5.Collectively, these results demonstrate how LFs can reduce the efficacy of prey refugia. Mitigating such effects will require limiting or restoring LFs within prey refugia, although the effectiveness of mitigation efforts will depend upon spatial scale, which in turn will be influenced by the life-history traits of predator and prey.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nowhere to hide: Effects of linear features on predator–prey dynamics in a large mammal system

DeMars

Boutin

2017

Journal of Animal Ecology

114

125

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“…In northeastern British Columbia, Canada, Leverkus (2011) reported high use of the Alaskan Highway corridor by wood bison of the Nordquist population. This corridor is much wider than the majority of LFs in our study area (e.g., average seismic line width < 8 m; Pattison et al 2016) and the wide rightof-way associated with primary highways such as the Alaska Highway are known to have high abundances of early seral vegetation and (or) exotic forage species with high nutritional value, making these areas attractive to ungulates (Rea 2003; T. Jung, personal communication).…”

Section: Snowmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In the boreal forests of western Canada, linear features (LFs) such as roads, pipelines, and natural resource exploration lines (seismic lines) are a prominent form of human disturbance (Pattison et al 2016) and understanding their effects on wildlife has become a management priority (Venier et al 2014;Dabros et al 2018). Recent research has demonstrated that LFs can exert a myriad of effects, including influencing animal movement rates and direction (Dickie et al 2017b;Riva et al 2018), facilitating dispersal (Doncaster et al 2001;Roberts et al 2018), contributing to range expansion (Dawe et al 2014;Jung 2017;Fisher and Burton 2018), and altering predator-prey dynamics (DeGregorio et al 2014;DeMars and Boutin 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of linear features on resource selection and movement rates of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae)

2020

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Human-mediated disturbances can lead to novel environmental features that can affect native biota beyond simple habitat loss. In boreal forests of western Canada, linear features (LFs; e.g., pipelines, seismic lines, and roads) are known to alter behaviour, movements, and interactions among species. Understanding LF impacts on native species has therefore been a management priority. Here, we investigate how LFs affect the spatial behaviour of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae Rhoads, 1898), which are designated as “threatened” in Canada. Using data collected from the Ronald Lake population in northeastern Alberta, we assessed how LFs influenced habitat selection and movement of bison by testing support among three hypotheses explaining whether LFs (i) increased forage availability, (ii) enhanced movement efficiency, or (iii) increased predation risk. Results supported the movement efficiency hypothesis as bison were generally ambivalent toward LFs, showing weak selection or avoidance depending on land-cover type, but moved slightly faster when on them. These findings contrast with avoidance behaviours reported for sympatric woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)), which are also “threatened.” Our results should inform critical habitat decisions for wood bison, but we caution that further research is needed to understand the effects of LFs on bison demography.

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“…These resource development activities result in the removal of native vegetation and have led to hundreds of thousands of kilometers of edge caused by linear disturbances such as roads, railways, powerlines, seismic lines, and pipelines (Lee and Boutin , Pattison et al. ). These activities are known to impact boreal landbird communities (Hobson and Schieck , Bayne et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Additive and interactive cumulative effects on boreal landbirds: winners and losers in a multi‐stressor landscape

Mahon

Holloway²,

Bayne

et al. 2019

Ecological Applications

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Stressors created by multiple resource industries can result in cumulative effects over time and space. Many studies have evaluated single stressors and assumed that cumulative effects can be understood by adding stressors together. However, there is growing evidence that interactive effects are important in structuring biological communities. We evaluated whether the effects of multiple stressors in the boreal forest (linear features, energy, forestry) combine additively or interactively by testing a candidate model set of 12 cumulative effects models of abundance for 27 landbird species. We fitted paired additive and interactive Generalized Additive Models and examined model predictions in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area of Alberta, Canada, and a theoretical no‐disturbance version of the study area. Of the 27 species examined, an additive disturbance model was the best for nine species, while an interactive disturbance model was the best for 11 species. In the current study area, disturbance models predicted strong increases in abundance for species associated with deciduous forest and open habitats (winning species) and moderate decreases for species associated with conifer forest (losing species). We found a 15% change in landbird community composition between the current study area, with 8.4% disturbance, and the theoretical no‐disturbance study area. Complex synergistic and antagonistic interactions among stressors were observed for 39% of landbird species, with the majority of interactions observed being synergistic. Stressors with relatively small disturbance areas, such as narrow linear disturbances, frequently interacted with other stressors to affect species’ responses, and energy sector stressors often had additive or interactive effects with forestry stressors. Interactive cumulative effects from multiple sectors will make it increasingly difficult for industry and land managers to manage impacts unless interactions among stressors are incorporated into cumulative effects assessments and regional land use planning processes.

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The Landscape Impact of Linear Seismic Clearings for Oil and Gas Development in Boreal Forest

Cited by 55 publications

References 48 publications

Nowhere to hide: Effects of linear features on predator–prey dynamics in a large mammal system

Nowhere to hide: Effects of linear features on predator–prey dynamics in a large mammal system

Effects of linear features on resource selection and movement rates of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae)

Additive and interactive cumulative effects on boreal landbirds: winners and losers in a multi‐stressor landscape

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