title: Density of river otters (Lontra canadensis) in relation to energy development in the Green River Basin, Wyoming.
abstract: Exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas have increased in recent years and are expected to expand in the future. Reduction in water quality from energy extraction may negatively affect water supply for agriculture and urban use within catchments as well as down river. We used non-invasive genetic techniques and capture-recapture modeling to estimate the abundance and density of North American river otters (Lontra canadensis), a sentinel species of aquatic ecosystems, in Southwestern Wyoming. While densities in two of three river reaches were similar to those reported in other freshwater systems in the western US (1.45-2.39 km per otter), otters appeared to avoid areas near energy development. We found no strong difference in habitat variables, such as overstory cover, at the site or reach level. Also, fish abundance was similar among the three river reaches. Otter activity in our study area could have been affected by elevated levels of disturbance surrounding the industrial gas fields, and by potential surface water contamination as indicated by patterns in water conductivity. Continued monitoring of surface water quality in Southwestern Wyoming with the aid of continuously recording devices and sentinel species is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.affiliation: Wyoming Geographic Science Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Albeke
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.affiliation: US Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Program in Ecology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. Electronic address: bendavid@uwyo.edu.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben-David
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D000066388:Oil and Gas Industry; D010041:Otters / Q000254:growth & development*; D011156:Population Density; D045483:Rivers; D014959:Wyoming
keywords: Conductivity; Contamination; Disturbance; Habitat quality; Hydraulic fracturing; Lontra canadensis; River otters; Salmonids; Sentinel species; Surface water