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?– 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.

Pad Site

• often 4-6 acres

• stabilized with compacted stone and aggregate

• created ponds

• roads and pipeline connections

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

– highways for invasive species:• Multiflora rose• Stiltgrass• Autumn olive• Garlic mustard

Linear Openings:Roads, Seismic Lines, and Pipelines

Invasives:

Garlic Mustard

• Allelopathic

• Aggressive

Japanese Knotweed/Bamboo

Japanese Barberry

Autumn Olive

Mile-a-Minute

Impoundments

• freshwater reservoirs

• frac waters• trap for

amphibians• attractor for

migratory waterfowl

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)

Ovenbirds had lower pairing success by compressors; younger males occupied sites nearer to compressor stations. (Habib, Bayne, and Boutin 2007)

Habitat Fragmentation

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.

Allegheny National Forest

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)

Disturbance to Sensitive Habitats

When the ‘edge’ increases…

• the core “deep dark woods” decreases

• higher predation and nest parasitism

Increased Predation

Brown-headed Cowbird

The Winners: habitat generalists, tolerant of distubance and people

American Crow, Common Raven, Blue Jay

The Losers: intolerant of disturbance or habitat specialists

Northern Goshawk, Broad-winged Hawk

Poor Dispesral Abilities

Spotted Salamander, Northern Red Salamander, Wood Frog

Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed Vireo

Area sensitive or forest interior birds

Allegheny Woodrat, Timber Rattlesnake

Timber Rattlesnake

• 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

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

Is there legal protection?

Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI)

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

PNDI Species of Interest

Northern Myotis Indiana Bat

Silver-haired Bat Eastern Small-footed Myotis

PNDI: Grassland Birds-avoid activity during nesting season

Upland Sandpiper

Short-eared Owl

Northern Harrier/Marsh Hawk

Bald Eagle

• >200 nests in PA

• Keep well 1000 feet away

• Nests off-limits for 3 years

Great Blue Heronry

• 0-600 feet-no activity that alters habitat

• 600-1000 feet-low impact activity

• Nesting season-Feb 15-Aug 15

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

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

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.

And what of the aquatic species?

Change is coming…

Change is here already…

What level is acceptable?