Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU

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US Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner to investigate effects of oil and gas extraction activities on wildlife located on National Wildlife Refuges. When conventional or unconventional mining facilities are present on federal lands, the subsurface mineral rights remain the property of the previous landowners. The non-federal entities can access and extract oil and gas (OG) resources while the federal entity is responsible for managing the above ground events to meet the mission of the Department of the Interior of protecting the Nationâ¿¿s natural resources. Many of the regions that lie over shale or kerogen-rich rock formations are also prime habitats for terrestrial wildlife, including amphibians and reptiles. To date, there are few empirically derived data available to resource managers on the effects of OG production to amphibians or reptiles. Little is known on whether oil extraction activities temporarily or permanently displace residents and whether exposure can exert physiological and/or ecological effects on individuals and populations at those sites.

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