Effects of roads on individual caribou movements during migration

Wilson, Ryan R.; Parrett, Lincoln S.; Joly, Kyle; Dau, Jim

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2015.12.035

Cited by 46 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Although development pressure is generally lower on the ranges of Arctic Rangifer than those found further south, a warming cli-mate is anticipated to improve access to resources in the north and to likely increase industrial activity in the Arctic (Prowse et al 2009). The effects of anthropogenic disturbance on Rangifer have been well documented (Johnson et al 2005;Reimers and Colman 2006;Vistnes and Nellemann 2008;Polfus et al 2011;Boulanger et al 2012;Wilson et al 2013bWilson et al , 2016, and the potential for habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation from increased human activity in the Arctic could impair the ability of Rangifer to adjust to a rapidly changing environment (Vistnes and Nellemann 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

2018

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Abstract:The ability of many species to adapt to the shifting environmental conditions associated with climate change will be a key determinant of their persistence in the coming decades. This is a challenge already faced by species in the Arctic, where rapid environmental change is well underway. Caribou and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) play a key role in Arctic ecosystems and provide irreplaceable socioeconomic value to many northern peoples. Recent decades have seen declines in many Rangifer populations, and there is strong concern that climate change is threatening the viability of this iconic Arctic species. We examine the literature to provide a thorough and full consideration of the many environmental factors that limit caribou and reindeer populations, and how these might be affected by a warming climate. Our review suggests that the response of Rangifer populations to climate change is, and will continue to be, varied in large part to their broad circumpolar distribution. While caribou and reindeer could have some resilience to climate change, current global trends in abundance undermine all but the most precautionary outlooks. Ultimately, the conservation of Rangifer populations will require careful management that considers the local and regional manifestations of climate change.Key words: climate change, caribou, reindeer, Rangifer, Arctic.Résumé : La capacité de bien des espèces à s'adapter aux conditions changeantes du milieu, associées au changement climatique, sera un facteur déterminant de leur pérennité dans les décennies à venir. Ceci constitue un défi auquel les espèces sont déjà confrontées dans l'Arctique, où la dégradation rapide de l'environnement est bien amorcée. Les caribous et les rennes (Rangifer tarandus) jouent un rôle essentiel dans les écosystèmes arctiques et apportent une valeur socio-économique irremplaçable aux populations du Nord. Au cours des dernières décennies, il y a eu des déclins dans beaucoup de populations de Rangifer et il règne une grande inquiétude que le changement climatique menace la viabilité de cette espèce iconique de l'Arctique. Nous examinons la littérature afin de fournir une étude complète et minutieuse des nombreux facteurs du milieu restreignant les populations de caribous et de rennes, et de déterminer comment ces populations pourraient être touchées par le réchauffement climatique. Notre examen suggère que la réponse des populations de Rangifer au changement climatique est, et continuera à être, diverse principalement en raison de leur vaste aire de répartition circumpolaire. Tandis que les caribous et les rennes pourraient avoir une certaine résilience au changement climatique, les tendances globales actuelles d'abondance des espèces affaiblissent toutes les perspectives sauf les plus préoccupantes. En fin de compte, la conservation des populations de Rangifer nécessitera une gestion prudente qui prenne en compte les manifestations locales et régionales de changement climatique. [Traduit par la Rédaction]

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

2018

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“…Numerous studies have documented ungulates modifying their behavior (i.e. displacement) in response to energy development (Dyer, O'Neill, Wasel, & Boutin, 2001;Nellemann, Vistnes, Jordhøy, Strand, & Newton, 2003;Cameron, Smith, White, & Griffith, 2005;Sawyer, Nielson, Lindzey, & McDonald, 2006;Sawyer, Kauffman, & Nielson, 2009;Lendrum, Anderson, Long, Kie, & Bowyer, 2012;Skarin, Nellemann, Ronnegard, Sandstrom, & Lundqvuist, 2015;Wilson, Parrett, Joly, & Dau, 2016), but the duration of those behavioral responses and their implications for demography are not well established. There remains a common perception that ungulates eventually adapt to altered landscapes and acclimate to energy infrastructure.…”

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confidence: 99%

Mule deer and energy development—Long‐term trends of habituation and abundance

Sawyer¹,

Korfanta

Nielson

et al. 2017

Global Change Biology

125

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As the extent and intensity of energy development in North America increases, so do disturbances to wildlife and the habitats they rely upon. Impacts to mule deer are of particular concern because some of the largest gas fields in the USA overlap critical winter ranges. Short-term studies of 2-3 years have shown that mule deer and other ungulates avoid energy infrastructure; however, there remains a common perception that ungulates habituate to energy development, and thus, the potential for a demographic effect is low. We used telemetry data from 187 individual deer across a 17-year period, including 2 years predevelopment and 15 years during development, to determine whether mule deer habituated to natural gas development and if their response to disturbance varied with winter severity. Concurrently, we measured abundance of mule deer to indirectly link behavior with demography.Mule deer consistently avoided energy infrastructure through the 15-year period of development and used habitats that were an average of 913 m further from well pads compared with predevelopment patterns of habitat use. Even during the last 3 years of study, when most wells were in production and reclamation efforts underway, mule deer remained >1 km away from well pads. The magnitude of avoidance behavior, however, was mediated by winter severity, where aversion to well pads decreased as winter severity increased. Mule deer abundance declined by 36% during the development period, despite aggressive onsite mitigation efforts (e.g. directional drilling and liquid gathering systems) and a 45% reduction in deer harvest. Our results indicate behavioral effects of energy development on mule deer are long term and may affect population abundance by displacing animals and thereby functionally reducing the amount of available habitat. K E Y W O R D Savoidance behavior, disturbance, indirect habitat loss, land-use planning, mitigation | INTRODUCTIONHabitat loss and fragmentation are among the most influential factors affecting species distribution and population viability (Fahrig, 2003;Hethcoat & Chalfoun, 2015;Sih, Ferrari, & Harris, 2011). Worldwide, energy development projects are quickly converting native habitats into roads, well pads, pipelines, wind turbines, solar installations and other infrastructure associated with energyThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

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“…Roads perpendicular to migration routes on the range of WAH caribou may have a greater effect on migration routes, thereby limiting foraging time on autumn ranges (Wilson et al. ). Road dust blown from trucks carrying mining ore have also been shown to contaminate vegetation concentrating potentially toxic levels of lead and zinc in downwind forages (Brumbaugh et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Caribou of the CAH caribou herd show minimal disturbance from the Dalton Highway, which is geographically aligned (north-south) with their annual migration (Bergerud et al 1984, Nicholson et al 2016. Roads perpendicular to migration routes on the range of WAH caribou may have a greater effect on migration routes, thereby limiting foraging time on autumn ranges (Wilson et al 2016). Road dust blown from trucks carrying mining ore have also been shown to contaminate vegetation concentrating potentially toxic levels of lead and zinc in downwind forages (Brumbaugh et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mineral constraints on arctic caribou (Rangifer tarandus): a spatial and phenological perspective

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Arctic caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have the longest terrestrial migration of any ungulate but little is known about the spatial and seasonal variation of minerals in summer forages and the potential impacts of mineral nutrition on the foraging behavior and nutritional condition of arctic caribou. We investigated the phenology, availability, and mechanistic relationships of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc in three species of woody browse, three species of graminoids, and one forb preferred by caribou over two transects bisecting the ranges of the Central Arctic (CAH) and Western Arctic (WAH) caribou herds in Alaska. Transects traversed three ecoregions (Coastal Plain, Arctic Foothills and Brooks Range) along known migration paths in the summer ranges of both herds. Concentrations of mineral in forages were compared to estimated dietary requirements of lactating female caribou. Spatial distribution of the abundance of minerals in caribou forage was associated with interactions of soil pH and mineral content, while temporal variation was related to plant maturity, and thus nitrogen and fiber content of forages. Concentrations of sodium were below caribou requirements in all forage species for most of the summer and adequate only on the Coastal Plain during the second half of summer. Phosphorus declined in plants from emergence to senescence and was below requirements in all forages by mid-summer, while concentrations of copper declined to marginal concentrations at plant senescence. Interactions of sodium with potassium, calcium with phosphorus, and copper with zinc in forages likely exacerbate the constraints of low concentrations sodium, phosphorus, and copper. Forages on the WAH contained significantly more phosphorus and copper than forages collected on the CAH transect. We suspect that migrations of caribou to the Arctic Coastal Plain may allow parturient females to replenish sodium stores depleted by foraging inland through the long arctic winters, while also extending the availability of adequate phosphorus, if animals are able to selectively track emerging waves of forage.

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Effects of roads on individual caribou movements during migration

Cited by 46 publications

References 43 publications

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

Observed and predicted effects of climate change on Arctic caribou and reindeer

Mule deer and energy development—Long‐term trends of habituation and abundance

Mineral constraints on arctic caribou (Rangifer tarandus): a spatial and phenological perspective

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