Effects of natural gas well development on songbird reproductive success in mixed-grass prairies of southeastern Alberta

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dc.contributor.authorYoo, Jenny
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeBaydack, Rick (Environment and Geography) Ellison, Kevin (World Wildlife Fund)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorKoper, Nicola (Natural Resources Management)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-22T01:06:38Z
dc.date.available2014-08-22T01:06:38Z
dc.date.issued2014-08-21
dc.degree.disciplineNatural Resources Managementen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Natural Resources Management (M.N.R.M.)en_US
dc.description.abstractGrassland songbird populations have experienced declines due to habitat loss. In Canada, gas well development continues to fragment and disturb prairie habitat. From 2010-2012, I monitored a total of 374 nests in mixed-grass prairie located in southeastern Alberta. I estimated the probabilities of nesting success relative to gas well infrastructure to test for effects on reproductive success. There was very little effect of well pads on nesting success, while roads had a greater impact. Savannah sparrow and chestnut-collared longspur clutch sizes and fledgling numbers per nest were lower near gas well pads and cattle water sources, suggesting lower quality habitat in these areas. Large-sized predators occurred less in areas with older well pads. Concentrations of new well pads may have greater effects on chestnut-collared longspur reproductive success. Minimizing habitat disturbance surrounding gas well pads, and reducing abundance of roads, should minimize impacts on reproductive success for most grassland songbirds.en_US
dc.description.noteOctober 2014en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/23850
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectgasen_US
dc.subjectgrasslanden_US
dc.subjectsongbirdsen_US
dc.subjectreproductionen_US
dc.subjectnesten_US
dc.subjectAlbertaen_US
dc.subjectdevelopmenten_US
dc.subjectwellsen_US
dc.subjectprairieen_US
dc.titleEffects of natural gas well development on songbird reproductive success in mixed-grass prairies of southeastern Albertaen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
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