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TitleInfluence of in-situ oil sands development on caribou (Rangifer tarandus) movement
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsMuhly, T., Serrouya R., Neilson E., Li H., & Boutin S.
Secondary TitlePLOS ONE
Volume10
Issue9
Date Published9/2015
Publication Languageeng
KeywordsIn-situ oil sands development (ISD), woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
Abstract

In-situ oil sands development (ISD) involves a network of facilities, wells, roads and pipelines to extract and transport subsurface bitumen. This technology is rapidly expanding and there is uncertainty whether ISDs restrict animal movement, leading to increased extinction probabilities for some wide-ranging species. Here we test for effects of simulated future (i.e., 50 years from now) and current ISDs on simulated movements of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a threatened species across North America. In simulations of future scenarios, we varied the spacing and permeability of ISDs and the presence/absence of protected areas. Permeability was measured as the number of times simulated caribou crossed ISDs with different levels of modelled permeability. We estimated the effects of these factors on caribou step length and annual home range size, key metrics of small and large spatiotemporal scales of movement, respectively. Current caribou crossings of above-ground pipeline features of ISDs were measured using camera traps and compared to expected caribou crossing rates based on present-day caribou movement simulations. Current crossing rates were evaluated within the context of predicted future crossing success rates necessary to maintain caribou step lengths and home ranges. With few exceptions, permeability across ISDs was the main factor affecting caribou movement, more so than spacing between developments or the presence of protected areas. However, minimal permeability (crossing rates of c. 15% to 60%, relative to an undisturbed site was needed to maintain existing home range size and step lengths. The effect of permeability on home range size and step length was non-linear, suggesting that small increases in permeability would provide a disproportionately greater benefit to caribou movement. Our predictions demonstrate that maintaining permeability across ISDs is more important than spacing between leases or including protected areas, and thus provides clear direction for mitigation efforts for features that will exist on the landscape for decades to come.

URLhttp://search.proquest.com/docview/1710982562
DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0136933.s004
Locational Keywords

Athabasca River, northeast Alberta

Active Link

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5881247259

Short TitlePLoS ONE
Citation Key54599

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