Physical footprint of oil and gas infrastructure, not anthropogenic noise, reduces nesting success of some grassland songbirds

Bernath-Plaisted, Jacy; Koper, Nicola

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.11.002

Cited by 61 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Zones indicating risk of edge effects offer only a simplistic indication of the possible extent of edge effects, particularly without specific information on edge effects relevant to the local biota, and factors affecting impact intensities. Nevertheless, this work demonstrates that the potential for biodiversity loss caused by extensive development should not be underestimated, even when the direct footprint is relatively small, although the distribution of infrastructure within the landscape is also important (Bernath-Plaisted and Koper 2016;Goosem 2007;Jones et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Lines in the sand: quantifying the cumulative development footprint in the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland

et al. 2017

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Citation for this articleRaiter, K.G., Prober, S.M., Hobbs, R.J., Possingham, H.P., 2017. Lines in the sand: quantifying the cumulative development footprint in the world's largest remaining temperate woodland. Abstract ContextThe acceleration of infrastructure development presents many challenges for the mitigation of ecological impacts. The type, extent, and cumulative effects of multiple developments must be quantified to enable mitigation. ObjectivesWe quantified anthropogenic development footprints in a globally significant and relatively intact region. We identified the proportion accounted for by linear infrastructure (e.g. roads) including infrastructure that is currently unmapped; investigated the importance of key landscape drivers; and explored potential ramifications of offsite impacts (edge effects). MethodsWe quantified direct development footprints of linear and 'hub' infrastructure in the Great Western Woodlands (GWW) in south-western Australia, using digitisation and extrapolation from a stratified random sample of aerial imagery. We used spatial datasets and literature resources to identify predictors of development footprint extent and calculate hypothetical 'edge effect zones'. ResultsUnmapped linear infrastructure, only detectable through manual digitisation, accounts for the greatest proportion of the direct development footprint. Across the 160,000 km 2 GWW, the estimated development footprint is 690 km 2 , of which 67% consists of linear infrastructure and the remainder is 'hub' infrastructure. An estimated 150,000 km of linear infrastructure exists in the study area, equating to an average of ~1 km per km 2 . Beyond the direct footprint, a further 4,000-55,000 km 2 (3-35% of the region) lies within edge effect zones. ConclusionsThis study highlights the pervasiveness of linear infrastructure and hence the importance of managing its cumulative impacts as a key component of landscape conservation. Our methodology can be applied to other relatively intact landscapes worldwide.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Lines in the sand: quantifying the cumulative development footprint in the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland

et al. 2017

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“…Our study had similar findings; while both species selected greater cover than available, this only led to greater nest success for Savannah sparrow. Dense vegetation preferred by Savannah sparrows may protect some nests from visual predators, but because most depredations of songbird nests is opportunistic [62] and the predator community is diverse [63], vegetation cover most likely plays a small part in overall protection to many grassland songbird nests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of shallow natural gas well structures and associated roads on grassland songbird reproductive success in Alberta, Canada

Yoo

Koper

2017

PLoS ONE

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Grassland songbird populations across North America have experienced dramatic population declines due to habitat loss and degradation. In Canada, energy development continues to fragment and disturb prairie habitat, but effects of oil and gas development on reproductive success of songbirds in North American mixed-grass prairies remains largely unknown. From 2010–2012, in southeastern Alberta, Canada, we monitored 257 nests of two ground-nesting grassland songbird species, Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) and chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus). Nest locations varied with proximity to and density of conventional shallow gas well structures and associated roads in forty-two 258-ha mixed-grass prairie sites. We estimated the probabilities of nest success and clutch size relative to gas well structures and roads. There was little effect of distance to or density of gas well structure on nest success; however, Savannah sparrow experienced lower nest success near roads. Clutch sizes were lower near gas well structures and cattle water sources. Minimizing habitat disturbance surrounding gas well structures, and reducing abundance of roads and trails, would help minimize impacts on reproductive success for some grassland songbirds.

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“…a disturbance or even a form of pollution. In this case, man-made sounds can mask and inhibit animal sounds and/or animal audition and it has been shown to affect communication [37], use of space [10] or reproduction [3]. This problem affects many biological groups such as birds [19], amphibians [9], reptiles [22], fish [1], mammals [34,35] and invertebrates [6].…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of the environmental impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map protocol

et al. 2019

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Background: For decades, biodiversity has suffered massive losses worldwide. Urbanization is one of the major drivers of extinction because it leads to the physical fragmentation and loss of natural habitats and it is associated with related effects, e.g. pollution and in particular noise pollution given that many man-made sounds are generated in cities (e.g. industrial and traffic noise, etc.). However, all human activities generate sounds, even far from any human habitation (e.g. motor boats on lakes, aircraft in the air, etc.). Ecological research now deals increasingly with the effects of noise pollution on biodiversity. Many studies have shown the impacts of anthropogenic noise and concluded that it is potentially a threat to life on Earth. The present work describes a protocol to systematically map evidence of the environmental impact of noise pollution on biodiversity. The resulting map will inform on the species most studied and on the demonstrated impacts. This will be useful for further primary research by identifying knowledge gaps and in view of further analysis, such as systematic reviews.Methods: Searches will include peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English and French. Two online databases will be searched using English terms and search consistency will be assessed with a test list. No geographical restrictions will be applied. The subject population will include all species. Exposures will include all types of man-made sounds (industrial, traffic, etc.) in all types of environments (or media) (terrestrial, aerial, aquatic), including all contexts and sound origins (spontaneous or recorded sounds, in situ or laboratory studies, etc.). All relevant outcomes will be considered (space use, reproduction, communication, abundance, etc.). An open-access database will be produced with all relevant studies selected during the three screening stages. For each study, the database will contain metadata on key variables of interest (species, types of sound, outcomes, etc.). This database will be available in conjunction with a map report describing the mapping process and the evidence base with summary figures and tables of the study characteristics.

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Physical footprint of oil and gas infrastructure, not anthropogenic noise, reduces nesting success of some grassland songbirds

Cited by 61 publications

References 56 publications

Lines in the sand: quantifying the cumulative development footprint in the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland

Lines in the sand: quantifying the cumulative development footprint in the world’s largest remaining temperate woodland

Effects of shallow natural gas well structures and associated roads on grassland songbird reproductive success in Alberta, Canada

Evidence of the environmental impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map protocol

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