Minimizing Effects Of Linear Developments On Woodland Caribou: New Research On Winter Ranges In West-Central Alberta by Christoph Rohner and Paula Oberg
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Linear structures in a changing landscape Alberta is at the forefront of the energy industry. Containing more non-renewable resources and producing more oil and gas than any other province in Canada, the industry has provided a primary source of jobs and cultural development in Alberta. This extraordinary development has come at some cost. With more than 240,000 km of pipeline in the ground, and associated production facilities, the province has transformed. Forests that were previously only crossed by rivers and creeks, are now showing an increasing web of cutlines for seismic activity, pipelines, and roads. As a natural landscape is transforming rapidly into a cultural landscape, the need for protecting biodiversity and elemental ecosystem functions has been recognized. Industry is partaking in a stakeholder process with the goal of ensuring the survival of healthy caribou populations while economic opportunities are not unnecessarily reduced. Guidelines for industrial activity have been implemented in 1996, and the West-Central Alberta Caribou Standing Committee (WCACSC) is actively seeking for innovative ways to minimize potential effects of industrial activity on woodland caribou.
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Spatial separation between predator and prey: Key to successful caribou management? Typically, moose and other ungulates such as elk and deer prefer habitat with a good supply of energy-rich browse of deciduous trees and shrubs, sometimes in combination with grasses. In westcentral Alberta, these habitats are mostly located at lower elevations and along rivers, where willow and aspen are abundant. The ecology of wolves in northern forests is tied to the abundance and distribution of moose. In westcentral Alberta, elk can also become major prey where they are locally abundant. Moose and elk habitat are also good wolf habitat. Caribou are easier prey for wolves than moose and elk. It appears that avoidance of predators is a major factor for caribou distribution on winter ranges. In west-central Alberta, the migratory mountain caribou are wintering mostly at higher elevations in nutrient-poor pine forests with a good
supply of terrestrial lichens as forage. In the Little Smoky area and in northeastern Alberta, the more sedentary ecotype of woodland caribou are often found in association with half-open muskegs. Industrial development may reduce the spatial separation between caribou and wolves, because wolves appear to be using linear structures as travel corridors. Recent results from research conducted in northeastern Alberta add to these concerns. Other concerns relate to human access (poaching) and reduced mobility of caribou. It is unknown to what extent these concerns apply to west-central Alberta. However, this aspect has become a high research priority. Specific information is needed to ensure efficent and effective guidelines for industrial activity, with the target of successfully integrating resource development and caribou conservation in west-central Alberta.
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Objective: Identifying effective guidelines Current guidelines for low impact seismic lines (LIS) involve several gradations of reducing impacts. The least impacts are expected from heliportable, hand cut, and meandering lines with a target width of 4.5 m. Little information exists on how different attributes of cutlines, such as width and vegetation cover, will affect caribou. The same is true for different types of road development. New research is directed at identifying the effect of different linear developments on caribou. This information will assist in the evaluation of current operating guidelines for industrial activity in caribou ranges.
Step 1: Mapping linear development An updated map of linear structures and their major characteristics is a necessary foundation for studying caribou responses.
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For this purpose, a combination of satellite imagery (IRS, 5x5 m pixels) and aerial photography are being used. In some cases, additional data is obtained from permit information and groundtruthing. The width of a line, identified by remote sensing, will allow classification of different types of linear development: â&#x20AC;˘ <5 m: â&#x20AC;˘ 5-15 m: â&#x20AC;˘ 15-30 m: â&#x20AC;˘ >30 m:
Low impact seismic and survey lines Standard (conventional) seismic lines Conventional pipeline ROW widths Majority of road / powerline ROWs
Further distinctions will be made according to road type and winter use (packed snow or ploughed), with information from local industry, government partners, and flight records. In summer 1999, >100 sites were visited on the ground to measure internal characteristics of linear developments and collect vegetation information. At least 5 replicates were visited for each attribute combination under study. This ground-truthing is essential for constructing an accurate map with verified information. The digital product will be available for GIS application.
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Step 2: Studying caribou responses By the end of 1999, 25 caribou will be fitted with GPS-collars in west-central Alberta. This method allows a rapid collection of many caribou locations on winter ranges to answer a variety of research questions (see Research News, Issue 1).
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Step 3: Guidelines and population viability The response data will be analysed with a specific focus on providing information for evaluation and revision of guidelines. This part of our caribou research program is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year 2000. The information will also be integrated with other components of the research project. The effect of industrial development on the spatial separation hypothesis will be investigated with data from GPS-collared wolves, and questions of habitat change related to forest harvesting and renewal will also be incorporated. Caribou population viability will be assessed with a spatially explicit model, which will assist in the evaluation of guideline revisions and management scenarios. Acknowledgements The initiation of this research has been a truly collaborative effort, and it is impossible to list all individuals who have contributed to this successful beginning. Without the vision and guidance of many individuals of several companies from all sectors, and from several government branches, this project would not be possible. We thank you for your support.
The location data will provide detailed information about movements and responses of individual caribou to different classes of linear development. Caribou locations can be overlaid on top of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Buffers â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of different distances to development using GIS. Identifying the responses to different attributes of seismic lines will require stratification of data and the use of multivariate statistics.
New Faces in the Research Team Paula Oberg is an M.Sc. Candidate (Wildlife Ecology and Management) within the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta (supervisors Dr. F. Schmiegelow and Dr. C. Rohner). Paulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research is looking at the distribution of mountain caribou in relation to linear features in west central Alberta. Her focus is on determining if caribou locations in relation to linear developments are influenced by the type of linear feature (roads, pipeline ROWs, seismic lines, power lines) or by the internal attributes of linear features (width, vegetation cover). Paula comes to the caribou research team with a background in environmental regulations pertaining to the oil/gas industry. She has worked as an environmental consultant for small to medium sized oil/gas companies; developing environmental management systems and associated training, environmental impact assessments, and risk assessments. She is supported by an NSERC scholarship.
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