UTILIZING COMMUNITY SCIENCE DATA TO MODEL RHOPALOCERA COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO OIL AND GAS DRILLING IN THE MID-ATLANTIC ECOREGION

Both conventional and unconventional drilling have detrimental environmental impacts, yet the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH) suggests moderate disturbances can be beneficial for the ecosystem. To examine whether mild drilling activity can elevate biodiversity, this study utilized butterflies as bioindicators and data collected from community scientists of the North American Butterfly Society to investigate the impacts of drilling activity among five locations. Linear regressions indicated biotic simplification at drilled sites. A quartiles-based ANOVA generalized trends of species richness- particularly handy for broad policy formation. A ranges-based analysis highlighted variability in drilling activity- useful for stricter management of drilling activity. Count circles in East Bedford or near “Low” drilling activity had the most individual butterflies, irrespective of Drilling Activity categorization. In summary, the results from this study underscore the strength of utilizing community science data for ecological studies, and the importance of site-specific and proactive conservation.