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    Common ravens in Alaska's North Slope oil fields: an integrated study using local knowledge and science

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    Backensto_S_2010.pdf
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    Author
    Backensto, Stacia Ann
    Keyword
    Corvus corax
    Behavior
    Alaska
    North Slope
    Effect of human beings on
    Nests
    Ravens
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8434
    Abstract
    Common ravens (Corvus corax) that nest on human structures in the Kuparuk and Prudhoe Bay oil fields on Alaska's North Slope are believed to present a predation risk to tundra-nesting birds in this area. In order to gain more information about the history of the resident raven population and their use of anthropogenic resources in the oil fields, I documented oil field worker knowledge of ravens in this area. In order to understand how anthropogenic subsidies in the oil fields affect the breeding population, I examined the influence of types of structures and food subsidies on raven nest site use and productivity in the oil fields. Oil field workers provided new and supplemental information about the breeding population. This work in conjunction with a scientific study of the breeding population suggests that structures in the oil fields were important to ravens throughout the year by providing nest sites and warm locations to roost during the winter. The breeding population was very successful and appears to be limited by suitable nest sites. The landfill is an important food source to ravens during winter, and pick-up trucks provide a supplemental source of food throughout the year. Further research will be necessary to identify how food (anthropogenic and natural) availability affects productivity and the degree to which ravens impact tundra-nesting birds.
    Description
    Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010
    Table of Contents
    1. Introduction -- 2. An alternative information source on common ravens (Corvus corax) of Alaska's North Slope oil fields : local ecological knowledge of oil field workers -- Introduction -- This study -- Background of the oil fields and oil field workers -- Methods for documenting oil field worker knowledge -- Inverviews -- Questionnaires -- Interview and questionnaire participants : biographical details -- Focus group and individual interview content analysis -- Questionnaire analysis -- Integration of interview and questionnaire results -- Findings -- Raven population characteristics -- Raven use of the landfill, structures, dumpsters and pick-up trucks -- Raven responses to human activities -- Perspectives of ravens as predators -- Workers' perspectives and personal relationship with ravens -- Workers' perspectives on managing ravens -- Discussion -- Historical information and population change -- Winter resources, trucks, dumpsters, human activities, and ravens -- Workers personal values of ravens in the oil fields -- Future research considerations -- Acknowledgements -- Literature cited -- 3. Industrial nest ecology : common ravens in Alaska's North Slope oil fields -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Methods -- Study area -- Nest site use -- Nest characteristics -- Use of anthropogenic subsidies -- Analysis of factors affecting nest site use -- Breeding biology -- Analysis of factors affecting productivity -- Results -- Nest site use -- Nest characteristics -- Landfill use -- Factors affecting nest site use -- Breeding biology -- Factors affecting productivity -- Discussion -- Social factors and territoriality -- Use of structures and structures characteristics -- Anthropogenic food subsidies -- Nest initiation and experienced individuals -- Use of anthropogenic food subsidies by breeding adults -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgements -- Literature cited 4. Discussion and management recommendations -- Discussion -- Management recommendations -- Literature cited.
    Date
    2010-05
    Type
    Thesis
    Collections
    Biological Sciences
    Theses supervised by AKCFWRU

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