The natural history of an Arctic oil field : development and the biota / edited by Joe C. Truett, Stephen R. Johnson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Truett, Joe C. (Joe Clyde), 1941-

Johnson, Stephen R., 1943-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ecology--Arctic regions.

Ecology.

Arctic Regions.

Oil fields--Arctic regions.

Local Subjects:

Oil fields--Arctic regions.

Physical Description:

xvi, 422 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

San Diego, Calif. ; London : Academic, 2000.

Summary:

In spite of the harsh conditions that characterize the Arctic, it is a surprisingly fragile ecosystem. The exploration for oil in the Arctic over the past 30 years has had profound effects on the plants and animals that inhabit this frozen clime. The Natural History of an Arctic Oil Field synthesizes decades of research on these myriad impacts. Specialists with years of field experience have contributed to this volume to create the first widely available synopsis of the ecology and wildlife biology of animals and plants living in close association with an actively producing oil field.

Contents:

Physical Environment 5

Wildlife, Fish, and Habitats 6

Anthropogenic Changes 8

The Investigative Focus 10

2 North Slope Oil Field Development

The History of North Slope Oil Exploration and Development 17

The Nature of Oil Development 18

Identifying and Monitoring Environmental Impacts 25

Mitigating Environmental Impacts 27

3 Vegetative Responses to Disturbance

Exploration Sites (1940-1970) 40

Exploration Sites (1970-1990) 41

Exploration Sites (1990s) 42

Winter Haul Roads 43

Production Pads and Roads 45

Dust Fallout from Roads 46

Gravel Spills on Tundra 46

Snow Stockpiles 47

Seeded and Fertilized Sites 47

Nutrients from Wastewater 48

Impoundments 49

Buried Cable Trenches 50

Oil Spills 50

Brine Spills 52

Part II Mammals of an Arctic Oil Field

4 Caribou

Distribution and Abundance 60

Population Influences in the Oil-Field Region 66

Responses to Human Activity and Habitat Change 70

Can Caribou Adapt to Environmental Change? 77

5 Caribou and Oil Fields

Caribou Use of the Oil Fields 87

Implications for Impacts of Oil Development 96

6 Grizzly Bear

Distribution and Abundance 110

Habitat Use and Food Habits 112

Denning Ecology 117

Population Dynamics 122

7 Polar Bear

Distribution and Movement 137

Maternal Denning 142

Population Status 146

Research and Management Challenges 149

Conservation Issues 151

8 Arctic Fox

Distribution and Abundance 161

Population Influences and Limits in the Region 167

Responses to Development 171

Management Issues 172

Part III Birds of an Arctic Oil Field

9 Pacific Loon

Distribution, Abundance, and Productivity 182

Population Influences 183

Responses to Habitat Change and Human Activity 189

10 Tundra Swans

Distribution and Abundance 199

Nesting Success and Productivity 206

Habitat Use 208

Diet 210

Environmental Influences on Swan Populations 211

11 Black Brant

Distribution and Abundance 223

Population Influences in the Oil-Field Region 226

Responses to Habitat Change and Human Activity 229

12 Lesser Snow Goose

Distribution and Abundance 235

Population Influences in the Oil-Field Region 245

Implications of Migration 252

13 Pacific Eider

Regional Distribution and Nesting 260

Migration 266

Population Influences in the Oil-Field Region 267

Population Influences Elsewhere 270

14 Shorebirds

Distribution and Abundance 280

Population Influences in the Oil-Field Region 285

Responses to Habitat Change and Human Activity 292

Part IV Marine and Freshwater Life

15 Freshwater Invertebrates: Their Regulation and Importance to Vertebrates

Habitat 309

The Invertebrate Fauna 310

Regulation of Invertebrate Communities 314

Influences of Development 317

16 Freshwater Fishes in the Arctic Oil-Field Region and Coastal Plain of Alaska

Freshwater Habitats and Their Dominant Fishes 328

Ninespine Stickleback 335

Arctic Grayling 338

Least Cisco 340

Broad Whitefish 343

Round Whitefish 344

17 Anadromous and Amphidromous Fishes

Distribution and Abundance 353

Habitat and Trophic Ecology 358

Responses to Development 361

18 The Benthic Faunal Assemblage of the Boulder Patch Kelp Community

Study Area 373

Management Implications 395

Part V Synthesis

19 Synthesis 401.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0127012354

OCLC:

42954739