Michael Curran and a research group from University of Wyoming, University of California-Davis, Jonah Energy and QEP Resources found insect abundance and diversity were significantly higher on reclaimed natural gas well pads in Sublette County, Wyoming’s Pinedale Anticline Natural Gas Field.
Aside from pollination and nutrient cycling as key ecosystem services, it’s estimated that 96% of birds in terrestrial ecosystems rear their young solely or primarily on insects. Insects are a critical source of protein for sage-grouse chicks which are known to eat beetles, ants and other insects. In this study, we found 73x more beetles from the family Chrysomelidae on reclaimed well pads than in adjacent reference systems.
Link to Casper Star Tribune’s article can be found here: https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/study-says-oil-and-gas-reclamation-is-good-for-wyomings-bugs/article_75d74980-03ab-596b-9a6a-a96d66b32f70.html
