effects of natural gas drilling on wildlife
DESCRIPTION
Effects of Natural Gas Drilling on Wildlife. Dr. Jerry Skinner Keystone College. Who…"speaks for the trees, as the trees have no tongues“?. What are the impacts?. It depends…… Land use-farmland of forest?. What are the impacts?. It depends…… land use-farmland of forest? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Effects of Natural Gas
Drilling on Wildlife
Dr. Jerry Skinner
Keystone College
Who…"speaks for the trees, as the trees have no tongues“?
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What are the impacts?
It depends……
– Land use-farmland of forest?
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What are the impacts?
It depends……
– land use-farmland of forest?– core forest is of special concern
• >300 ft from edge or opening
– number of wells and their placement• depends on geology, proximity to pipelines and
water, and size of the gas drainage unit
The bottom line…the landscape will change.
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Pad Site
• often 4-6 acres
• stabilized with compacted stone and aggregate
• created ponds
• roads and pipeline connections
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Linear Openings:Roads, Seismic Lines, and Pipelines
• some wildlife avoid roads-even deer
• forest-dependent salamanders are impacted by both active and inactive roads
• encourage trespass by ATVs
• seismic lines 8 m wide became territorial boundaries
• lines 2-3 m wide were incorporated into territories
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– highways for invasive species:• Multiflora rose• Stiltgrass• Autumn olive• Garlic mustard
Linear Openings:Roads, Seismic Lines, and Pipelines
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Invasives:
Garlic Mustard
• Allelopathic
• Aggressive
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Japanese Knotweed/Bamboo
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Japanese Barberry
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Autumn Olive
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Mile-a-Minute
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Impoundments
• freshwater reservoirs
• frac waters• trap for
amphibians• attractor for
migratory waterfowl
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Noise
• Drilling is temporary• Compressors stations are permanent• Birds and amphibians communicate
vocally during breeding season– along highways, birds wait until big trucks
have passed to sing– low frequency sounds travel farther– songbird diversity is 1.5x higher away from
noise (Baynbe, Habib, and Boutin 2008)
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Ovenbirds had lower pairing success by compressors; younger males occupied sites nearer to compressor stations. (Habib, Bayne, and Boutin 2007)
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Habitat Fragmentation
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Species Area Curve: Bats on Caribbean Islands
Log of island size in square miles
Log of cumulative # of species
Conclusion: Larger islands patches have more species.
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Allegheny National Forest
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Roads and Wildlife
• Forest dependent salamanders negatively impacted by both active and inactive logging roads (Semiltisch et al. 2007)
• Road traffic and location influence mortality rates (Langen et al. 2009, Eigenbrod et al. 2008)
• 40-60% reduction in density of sage-brush songbirds within 100 m of roads associated with natural gas extraction (Ingelfinger and Anderson 2004)
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Disturbance to Sensitive Habitats
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When the ‘edge’ increases…
• the core “deep dark woods” decreases
• higher predation and nest parasitism
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Increased Predation
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Brown-headed Cowbird
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The Winners: habitat generalists, tolerant of distubance and people
American Crow, Common Raven, Blue Jay
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The Losers: intolerant of disturbance or habitat specialists
Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk
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Poor Dispesral Abilities
Spotted Salamander, Northern Red Salamander, Wood Frog
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Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed Vireo
Area sensitive or forest interior birds
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Allegheny Woodrat, Timber Rattlesnake
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Timber Rattlesnake
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• PA candidate species– species of immediate concern
• responsibility species-may have 5% of total world breeding population; PA is the NE US stronghold
• strong correlation to Marcellus shale distribution
• seismic testing can collapse dens
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Impacts to Plants & Communities
• Pads– Direct mortality & loss of ecological
community– Fragmentation (more on this later)– Invasive-on equipment or natural
dispersal– Won’t be restored to original
community• Related Activities
– Seismic survey– Access roads– Impoundment– Water use and disposal– Pipelines
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Is there legal protection?
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Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI)
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Possible Outcomes of PNDI “Hits”
• No impact• Recommend moving
the site• Other mitigations• Extensive survey for
species of special concern (endangered, threatened, etc.)
• Monitor impacts
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PNDI Species of Interest
Northern Myotis Indiana Bat
Silver-haired Bat Eastern Small-footed Myotis
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PNDI: Grassland Birds-avoid activity during nesting season
Upland Sandpiper
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Short-eared Owl
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Northern Harrier/Marsh Hawk
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Bald Eagle
• >200 nests in PA
• Keep well 1000 feet away
• Nests off-limits for 3 years
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Great Blue Heronry
• 0-600 feet-no activity that alters habitat
• 600-1000 feet-low impact activity
• Nesting season-Feb 15-Aug 15
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Minimizing Impact
• Buffers around important features
• Encourage sanitization of equipment
• Encourage placement of sites, roads, etc. by existing disturbances
• Monitor invasives pre/during/post
• Hand cut seismic routes
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Reclamation of Disturbed Sites
• Revegetation guidelines• Encourage use of native species• Require monitoring of aggressive non-natives• Lessen potential of invasives-plant a cover quickly
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State Gamelands and Forests
• In many cases the State does NOT own mineral rights
• Owners may exercise their right of removal but still must follow environmental laws
• PA laws favor the extractor over the landowner.
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And what of the aquatic species?
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Change is coming…
Change is here already…
What level is acceptable?