Unconventional gas development facilitates plant invasions

Barlow, Kathryn M.; Mortensen, David A.; Drohan, Patrick J.; Averill, Kristine M.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.07.005

Cited by 19 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…As currently managed, pipelines do not provide early successional habitat for terrestrial species yet provide avenues for invasion by cowbirds and invasive plant species (Barlow et al 2017). Pipelines are typically maintained as herbaceous openings by periodic mowing or herbicide treatment to prevent the growth of trees, large shrubs, and woody-stemmed plants that can damage or compromise the safety of underground pipes with their roots (PADCNR 2014).…”

Section: Pipeline Collocationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collocating pipelines to minimize fragmentation: evaluating ecological costs of a shale gas mitigation practice

2023

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Shale gas development occurs in forests of the Appalachian Basin within breeding habitat for forest songbirds. Development requires linear infrastructure (e.g., pipelines, gas access roads) that fragments habitat and reduces core forest. Collocation is a mitigation practice that sites new pipelines adjacent to existing surface disturbance such as forest roads; it reduces core forest loss but may have associated ecological costs, defined as negative effects on native species and ecosystems. We conducted a paired sampling design between forest roads and collocated pipelines (expanded gas access roads collocated with pipelines) to evaluate ecological costs to forest songbirds in 2013 in Pennsylvania, USA. We surveyed 4 focal songbird species: 3 territorial species that varied in habitat requirements and the non‐territorial brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), an obligate brood parasite. We used spot mapping to survey focal species within linear corridors and the adjacent mature forest. Territory density of forest interior ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) was significantly lower on collocated pipelines (5.1 fewer territories per 10 ha) compared to forest road sites. We found no effect of collocation on territory density for the early successional species, eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) and chestnut‐sided warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica). Territories of all 3 territorial focal species crossed collocated pipeline sites less frequently than forest roads (ovenbird: 16%, eastern towhee: 14%, chestnut‐sided warbler: 31%) and the barrier effect increased with increasing corridor width. In contrast, brown‐headed cowbird abundance was 15 times greater at collocated pipelines compared to forest roads, suggesting that wider gas corridors provide enhanced access routes for cowbirds. Our study indicates the expansion of forest roads to collocated pipelines exacerbates the negative ecological effects already present with the existing road including increased edge avoidance by a forest interior species, greater barrier effects for all 3 territorial forest songbirds, and increased access for brown‐headed cowbirds into core forest. We support collocation as a mitigation strategy but emphasize restricting overall corridor width to reduce the additional ecological costs associated with this practice.

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Section: Pipeline Collocationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collocating pipelines to minimize fragmentation: evaluating ecological costs of a shale gas mitigation practice

2023

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“…Traffic on roads associated with gas well sites is also a direct source of mortality through vehicle collisions, especially during breeding and wintering seasons [70]. Additionally, roads can become corridors, facilitating the spread of invasive plant and animal species, which can cause losses of native habitat [71].…”

Section: Terrestrial Habitat Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Consideration of Wildlife in the Benefit-Costs of Hydraulic Fracturing: Expanding to an E3 Analysis

et al. 2022

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High-volume hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale (underlying about 24 mil ha in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia) has become a politically charged issue, primarily because of concerns about drinking water safety and human health. This paper examines fracking in the Marcellus region, and the tradeoffs between the energy and economic potential of natural gas extraction and the environmental impacts on wildlife. Therefore, we introduce a new E3 analysis that combines the costs and benefits as regards energy, economics, and the environment. The Marcellus Shale has the most proven reserves of natural gas of any basin in the United States, at 129 trillion cubic feet. Income from natural gas development comes primarily from direct and indirect jobs, and induced jobs (those created when direct workers spend their earnings in a community), taxes and fees, and royalty and lease payments to rights holders. Fracking, however, has detrimental effects on wildlife and wildlife habitats. Terrestrial habitat effects are primarily due to landscape fragmentation from the clearing of land for pipeline and well pad development, which often removes mature forest and creates open corridors and edge habitats. An increase in forest edge and open corridors is associated with shifts in the bird community, as generalist species that do well around people increase in abundance, while forest specialists decline. Invasive plants associated with disturbance further degrade forest habitats. Aquatic habitats are also affected, both directly and indirectly. Hydraulic fracturing requires up to 20 mil L of water per well fracture, most of which comes from surface water sources in the Marcellus region. The removal of water, especially in smaller headwaters, can increase sedimentation, alter water temperature and change its chemistry, resulting in reductions in aquatic biodiversity. Given the reality that hydraulic fracturing will continue, there is a need to develop practices that best minimize negative impacts on terrestrial and aquatic habitats, as well as policies and the resolve to enforce these practices. To achieve a more sustainable balance between economic, energy, and environmental costs and benefits, we recommend that industry, scientists, non-governmental organizations, mineral rights holders, landowners, and regulators work together to develop a set of best management practices that represent the best knowledge available.

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“…As regional dispersal corridors, roads therefore probably play an important role for plant invasions (Vicente et al 2014). Observed distribution patterns of alien plant species in road networks suggest traffic volume as one key variable related to the dispersal process (Vakhlamova et al 2016;Barlow et al 2017;Geng et al 2017;Horvitz et al 2017). At a local scale, traffic intensity is known to affect the diversity and composition of roadside vegetation (Truscott et al 2005;Jaźwa et al 2016), and distribution patterns of invasive alien species as well (Lemke et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network

Lemke¹,

Buchholz²,

Kowarik³

et al. 2021

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Road corridors are important conduits for plant invasions, and an understanding of the underlying mechanisms is necessary for efficient management of invasive alien species in road networks. Previous studies identified road type with different traffic volumes as a key driver of seed dispersal and abundance of alien plants along roads. However, how the intensity of traffic interacts with the habitat features of roadsides in shaping invasion processes is not sufficiently understood. To elucidate these interactions, we analyzed the population dynamics of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a common non-indigenous annual species in Europe and other continents, in a regional road network in Germany. Over a period of five years, we recorded plant densities at roadsides along four types of road corridors, subject to different intensities of traffic, and with a total length of about 300 km. We also classified roadsides in regard to habitat features (disturbance, shade). This allowed us to determine corridor- and habitat-specific mean population growth rates and spatial-temporal shifts in roadside plant abundances at the regional scale. Our results show that both traffic intensity and roadside habitat features significantly affect the population dynamics of ragweed. The combination of high traffic intensity and high disturbance intensity led to the highest mean population growth whereas population growth in less suitable habitats (e.g. shaded roadsides) declined with decreasing traffic intensity. We conclude that high traffic facilitates ragweed invasion along roads, likely due to continued seed dispersal, and can compensate partly for less suitable habitat features (i.e. shade) that decrease population growth along less trafficked roads. As a practical implication, management efforts to decline ragweed invasions within road networks (e.g. by repeated mowing) should be prioritized along high trafficked roads, and roadside with disturbed, open habitats should be reduced as far as possible, e.g. by establishing grassland from the regional species pool.

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Unconventional gas development facilitates plant invasions

Cited by 19 publications

References 48 publications

Collocating pipelines to minimize fragmentation: evaluating ecological costs of a shale gas mitigation practice

Collocating pipelines to minimize fragmentation: evaluating ecological costs of a shale gas mitigation practice

A Consideration of Wildlife in the Benefit-Costs of Hydraulic Fracturing: Expanding to an E3 Analysis

Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network

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