Pierre River Mine Project

TERRESTRIAL AENV SIRS 44 – 78
Question No. 62
Section 13.1
Request Volume 2, SIR 441a, Page 23-90 ; Volume 2, SIR 457a, Page 23-90 ; EIA
Volume 5, Appendix 5-4, Section 1.3.12, Page 80.
In their response to SIRs 441a and 457a Shell states that habitat loss is not
necessarily directly linked to a direct reduction in the abundance of wildlife
KIRs. Population abundance and habitat suitability are not directly tied because
many other factors are also important.
One of the other factors that Shell suggests affects population abundance is
carrying capacity. Shell offers moose as an example of a species that will not
suffer population decreases due to habitat loss since the carrying capacity of the
surrounding habitat has not been reached. Shell states that when moose are
displaced from the LSA the moose density in surrounding area would double to
0.44 moose/km 2 . This density is slightly higher than the highest density reported
in the oil sands region but just 22% of the carrying capacity put forward by
Crete (1987) and Messier (1994) (Page 23-128).
In the original EIA Volume 5, Appendix 5-4; Section 1.3.12, Page 80, Shell
predicts that In the PDC, [moose] populations increase from an initial density of
0.21 to 0.71 moose/km 2 .
62a Given that Shell acknowledges the estimate of moose density put forward by
Crete and Messier was an estimate for North America, not northern Alberta, and
for a predator-free environment, which is not the case in the RSA, describe the
applicability of the Crete and Messier estimate to the habitat surrounding the
LSA.
Response 62a The Messier (1994) estimate of two moose per km 2 is appropriate for habitat
surrounding the local study area (LSA), as this is the best estimate available for a
food-limited population density equilibrium. A food-limited population density is
a useful reference point, as harvest and predation rates may be affected by
wildlife management. Although the estimate of population equilibrium put
forward by Messier (1994) was produced including data from across North
America, most selected studies were from northern coniferous forest, including
two studies from northern Alberta, and are the best estimates available.
Reference
Messier, F. 1994. Ungulate population models with predation: a case study with
the North American moose. Ecology. 75: 478-488.
Request 62b What evidence is available that indicates the surrounding environment is
currently underexploited by moose?
April 2010 Shell Canada Limited 13-41
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