Impacts of oil well drilling noise on parental care and nestling condition of chestnut-collared longspurs (Calcarius ornatus)

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dc.contributor.authorSutcliffe, Lee
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeWaterman, Jane (Biological Sciences)
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeLeonard, Marty (Dalhousie University)
dc.contributor.supervisorKoper, Nicola
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-13T16:18:57Z
dc.date.available2023-09-13T16:18:57Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-24
dc.date.submitted2023-08-24T20:47:02Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2023-09-13T15:49:32Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplineNatural Resources Instituteen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Natural Resources Management (M.N.R.M.)
dc.description.abstractGrassland songbird populations are in steep decline across North America, largely due to habitat loss. Oil and gas infrastructure and its associated noise are one of several factors impacting the remaining grasslands. Oil well operating noise affects the breeding behavior of several bird species, but the effects of drilling noise are less understood. Drilling noise occurs at a louder amplitude than chronic operating noise and is more unpredictable, which may affect songbirds to a greater extent. Chestnut-collared longspurs (Calcarius ornatus) are a species at risk in Canada and are dependent on mixed-grass prairie, much of which is impacted by oil and gas development. To determine the effects of oil well drilling noise on chestnut-collared longspur parental behavior, I created an experimental noise system and deployed cameras on 63 chestnut-collared longspur nests between 2019 and 2021 in southern Alberta. I reviewed and recorded parental behavior across over 800 hours of nest videos. I also measured the brood mass and the age at fledge at each nest to determine the effects of drilling well noise and parental care on nestling condition. Chestnut-collared longspur males provided less care near drilling noise, while female care was unaffected. Additionally, the infrastructure itself may have provided preferable foraging opportunities as parental care was higher closer to infrastructure. Nestling condition was not impacted by changes in paternal care, but surprisingly, more female care was associated with lower brood mass and a younger age at fledge. Drilling noise, independent of parental care, was associated with lower brood mass and an older age at fledge close to the infrastructure. My results suggest that the impacts of drilling noise on nestlings is not due to the effects of noise on parental care, even though paternal care is affected by drilling noise. Changes in both brood mass and the age at fledge have an impact on fledgling survival in songbirds and may affect population recruitment in chestnut-collared longspurs. Therefore, it is important to consider management strategies such as erecting temporary sound barriers or postponing drilling during peak breeding season to reduce the effects of drilling noise on chestnut-collared longspurs.
dc.description.noteOctober 2023
dc.description.sponsorshipAlberta Conservation Association; Alberta Conservation Association Grants in Biodiversity The University of Manitoba; University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/37651
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectAvian ecology
dc.subjectAnimal behaviour
dc.subjectAnthropogenic noise
dc.subjectParental care
dc.subjectNestling condition
dc.subjectEnergy development
dc.subjectGrassland songbirds
dc.subjectMixed grass prairie
dc.subjectChestnut-collared longspur
dc.subjectSpecies at risk
dc.subjectConservation biology
dc.titleImpacts of oil well drilling noise on parental care and nestling condition of chestnut-collared longspurs (Calcarius ornatus)
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobano
oaire.awardNumberRGPIN-2017-04038
oaire.awardTitleEffects of industrial activity and anthropogenic noise on grassland birds
oaire.awardURIhttps://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=733448
project.funder.identifier501100000038
project.funder.nameNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
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