Abundance and movements of caribou in the oilfield complex near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Rangifer

卷:15

E.A. Lenart¹  K.R. Whitten¹  W.T. Smith¹  D.J. Reed¹  R.D. Cameron² 

[1] ;

[2] Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701-1599 U.S.A.;

关键词: Arctic;    disturbance;    pipeline;    Rangifer tarandus;    caribou;    oilfield;   

DOI  :  10.7557/2.15.1.1150

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

We examined the distribution and movements of 141 radiocollared female caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) of the Central Arctic Herd during summer, 1980-1993. Numbers of caribou locations within each of 5 quadrats along the arctic coast were totalled separately for days during which insects were active and inactive, and numbers of east-west and west-east crossings of each quadrat mid-line were determined from sequential observations. Both abundance and lateral movements of radiocollared females in the quadrat encompassing the intensively-developed Prudhoe Bay oilfield complex were significantly lower than in other quadrats (P < 0.001 and P < 0.00001, respectively). Avoidance of, and fewer movements within, the complex by female caribou are ostensibly in response to the dense network of production and support facilities, roads, above-ground pipelines, and the associated vehicular and human activity. Impaired access to this area constitutes a functional loss of habitat.

【 授权许可】

Unknown