A Reevaluation of Caribou Distribution Near an Oilfield Road on Alaska's North Slope

Abstract

Abstract Noel et al. (2004) claimed that oil development on Alaska's North Slope has not adversely affected caribou (Rangifer tarandus) distribution. Their argument was based on the lack of statistical difference between caribou densities at different distances from the Milne Point road, Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, USA,10–20 years after its construction. Our primary criticisms of that article are that the authors failed to include the effects of expanding oilfield infrastructure in their analysis, to incorporate 6 of 13 surveys, and to discuss data that revealed caribou largely abandoned their study area following this development. After the construction of the road, calving caribou were displaced from a previously used zone 0–4 km from the road, which subsequently increased use 4–6 km away from the road in the years spanning 1982–1987. With additional development of roads and pads in the calving grounds after 1987, affecting 92% of the study area, the remaining undisturbed fragments were too small for continued...