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Fritts SR, Guest EE, Weaver SP, Hale AM, Morton BP, Hein CD. Experimental trials of species-specific bat flight responses to an ultrasonic deterrent. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16718. [PMID: 38188150 PMCID: PMC10771094 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Unintended consequences of increasing wind energy production include bat mortalities from wind turbine blade strikes. Ultrasonic deterrents (UDs) have been developed to reduce bat mortalities at wind turbines. Our goal was to experimentally assess the species-specific effectiveness of three emission treatments from the UD developed by NRG Systems. We conducted trials in a flight cage measuring approximately 60 m × 10 m × 4.4 m (length × width × height) from July 2020 to May 2021 in San Marcos, Texas, USA. A single UD was placed at either end of the flight cage, and we randomly selected one for each night of field trials. Trials focused on a red bat species group (Lasiurus borealis and Lasiurus blossevillii; n = 46) and four species: cave myotis (Myotis velifer; n = 57), Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis; n = 73), evening bats (Nycteceius humeralis; n = 53), and tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus; n = 17). The trials occurred during three treatment emissions: low (emissions from subarrays at 20, 26, and 32 kHz), high (emissions from subarrays at 38, 44, and 50 kHz), and combined (all six emission frequencies). We placed one wild-captured bat into the flight cage for each trial, which consisted of an acclimation period, a control period with the UD powered off, and the three emission treatments (order randomly selected), each interspersed with a control period. We tracked bat flight using four thermal cameras placed outside the flight cage. We quantified the effectiveness of each treatment by comparing the distances each bat flew from the UD during each treatment vs. the control period using quantile regression. Additionally, we conducted an exploratory analysis of differences between sex and season and sex within season using analysis of variance. Broadly, UDs were effective at altering the bats' flight paths as they flew farther from the UD during treatments than during controls; however, results varied by species, sex, season, and sex within season. For the red bat group, bats flew farther from the UD during all treatments than during the control period at all percentiles (p < 0.001), and treatments were comparable in effectiveness. For cave myotis, all percentile distances were farther from the UD during each of the treatments than during the control, except the 90th percentile distance during high, and low was most effective. For evening bats and Brazilian free-tailed bats, results were inconsistent, but high and low were most effective, respectively. For tricolored bats, combined and low were significant at the 10th-75th percentiles, high was significant at all percentiles, and combined was most effective. Results suggest UDs may be an effective means of reducing bat mortalities due to wind turbine blade strikes. We recommend that continued research on UDs focus on low emission treatments, which have decreased sound attenuation and demonstrated effectiveness across the bat species evaluated in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Elizabeth Guest
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, United States
- Bowman, San Marcos, Texas, United States
| | | | - Amanda Marie Hale
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
| | | | - Cris Daniel Hein
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Arvada, Colorado, United States
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2
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Tuneu-Corral C, Puig-Montserrat X, Riba-Bertolín D, Russo D, Rebelo H, Cabeza M, López-Baucells A. Pest suppression by bats and management strategies to favour it: a global review. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:1564-1582. [PMID: 37157976 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Fighting insect pests is a major challenge for agriculture worldwide, and biological control and integrated pest management constitute well-recognised, cost-effective ways to prevent and overcome this problem. Bats are important arthropod predators globally and, in recent decades, an increasing number of studies have focused on the role of bats as natural enemies of agricultural pests. This review assesses the state of knowledge of the ecosystem services provided by bats as pest consumers at a global level and provides recommendations that may favour the efficiency of pest predation by bats. Through a systematic review, we assess evidence for predation, the top-down effect of bats on crops and the economic value of ecosystem services these mammals provide, describing the different methodological approaches used in a total of 66 reviewed articles and 18 agroecosystem types. We also provide a list of detailed conservation measures and management recommendations found in the scientific literature that may favour the delivery of this important ecosystem service, including actions aimed at restoring bat populations in agroecosystems. The most frequent recommendations include increasing habitat heterogeneity, providing additional roosts, and implementing laws to protect bats and reduce agrochemical use. However, very little evidence is available on the direct consequences of these practices on bat insectivory in farmland. Additionally, through a second in-depth systematic review of scientific articles focused on bat diet and, as part of the ongoing European Cost Action project CA18107, we provide a complete list of 2308 documented interactions between bat species and their respective insect pest prey. These pertain to 81 bat species belonging to 36 different genera preying upon 760 insect pests from 14 orders in agroecosystems and other habitats such as forest or urban areas. The data set is publicly available and updatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carme Tuneu-Corral
- BiBio, Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Av. Francesc Macià 51, Granollers, Catalonia, 08402, Spain
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigaçaõ em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- Global Change and Conservation Lab, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Xavier Puig-Montserrat
- BiBio, Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Av. Francesc Macià 51, Granollers, Catalonia, 08402, Spain
| | - Daniel Riba-Bertolín
- BiBio, Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Av. Francesc Macià 51, Granollers, Catalonia, 08402, Spain
| | - Danilo Russo
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Evolution (AnEcoEvo), Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, via Università, 100, Portici, Naples, 80055, Italy
| | - Hugo Rebelo
- CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigaçaõ em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Mar Cabeza
- Global Change and Conservation Lab, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adrià López-Baucells
- BiBio, Biodiversity and Bioindicators Research Group, Natural Sciences Museum of Granollers, Av. Francesc Macià 51, Granollers, Catalonia, 08402, Spain
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3
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Bennett EM, Florent SN, Venosta M, Gibson M, Jackson A, Stark E. Curtailment as a successful method for reducing bat mortality at a southern Australian wind farm. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma M. Bennett
- Elmoby Ecology Studio 23 Suburban St Clunes Victoria 3370 Australia
- School of Biology Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
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4
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Leroux C, Kerbiriou C, Le Viol I, Valet N, Barré K. Distance to hedgerows drives local repulsion and attraction of wind turbines on bats: Implications for spatial siting. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Camille Leroux
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Station de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
- Auddicé Biodiversité– ZAC du Chevalement Roost‐Warendin France
| | - Christian Kerbiriou
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Station de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
| | - Isabelle Le Viol
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Station de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
| | - Nicolas Valet
- Auddicé Biodiversité– ZAC du Chevalement Roost‐Warendin France
| | - Kévin Barré
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Station de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
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5
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Scholz C, Voigt CC. Diet analysis of bats killed at wind turbines suggests large‐scale losses of trophic interactions. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Scholz
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
| | - Christian C. Voigt
- Department Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
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6
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An Updated Review of Hypotheses Regarding Bat Attraction to Wind Turbines. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030343. [PMID: 35158666 PMCID: PMC8833423 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patterns of bat activity and mortalities at wind energy facilities suggest that bats are attracted to wind turbines based on bat behavioral responses to wind turbines. For example, current monitoring efforts suggest that bat activity increases post-wind turbine construction, with bats making multiple passes near wind turbines. We separated the attraction hypothesis into five previously proposed explanations of bat interactions at or near wind turbines, including attraction based on noise, roost sites, foraging and water, mating behavior, and lights, and one new hypothesis regarding olfaction, and provide a state of the knowledge in 2022. Our review indicates that future research should prioritize attraction based on social behaviors, such as mating and scent-marking, as this aspect of the attraction hypothesis has many postulates and remains the most unclear. Relatively more data regarding attraction to wind turbines based on lighting and noise emission exist, and these data indicate that these are unlikely attractants. Analyzing attraction at the species-level should be prioritized because of differences in foraging, flight, and social behavior among bat species. Lastly, research assessing bat attraction at various scales, such as the turbine or facility scale, is lacking, which could provide important insights for both wind turbine siting decisions and bat mortality minimization strategies. Identifying the causes of bat interactions with wind turbines is critical for developing effective impact minimization strategies.
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7
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de Jong J, Millon L, Håstad O, Victorsson J. Activity Pattern and Correlation between Bat and Insect Abundance at Wind Turbines in South Sweden. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113269. [PMID: 34828001 PMCID: PMC8614415 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wind power is an important energy system in the global transition towards renewable energy. As new wind farms are erected in increasing numbers, they will have an impact on many organisms, e.g., through habitat changes and collision mortalities. In this study, we measure bat activity, insect abundance, and weather conditions to test the hypothesis that insect abundance attracts bats to wind turbines because of feeding opportunities. We found that the relationship between insect abundance and bat activity was relatively weak, providing some support for the feeding-attraction hypothesis. However, we also found a strong correlation between bat passes and weather conditions. This suggests that stop-regulation based on weather conditions might be a solution to avoid collisions. However, this study highlights some of the problems with defining the limits for stop-regulation, as bat activity may be high also at relatively high wind speeds and low temperatures. Abstract We present data on species composition and activity of bats during two years at three different wind- turbines, located in south Sweden, both at the base and nacelle height. To test the hypothesis that bats are attracted to wind turbines because of feeding opportunities, insects were sampled at nacelle height at one wind turbine using a suction trap, simultaneously as bat activity were measured. At this wind turbine, we also compared two different technical systems for ultrasound recordings and collect meteorological data. The variation in bat activity was high between nights and between wind turbines. In addition to the expected open-air foraging species (Pipistrellus, Nyctalus, Vespertilio and Eptesicus), some individuals of unexpected species (Myotis, Barbastella, and Plecotus) were found at nacelle height. There was a weak but significant positive relation between bat activity and insect abundance, so the hypothesis could not be rejected, suggesting there might be other factors than insect abundance explaining the frequency of bat visits at the nacelle. We found a strong correlation between bat passes and weather conditions. A reasonable way to mitigate collisions is with stop-regulation. However, this study highlights some of the problems with defining the limits for stop-regulation based on weather conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnny de Jong
- Swedish Biodiversity Centre (CBM), Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7012, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-70-2271914
| | - Lara Millon
- Calluna AB, Linköpings Slott, 582 28 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Olle Håstad
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7084, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jonas Victorsson
- Kalmar County Administration, Regeringsgatan 1, 39231 Kalmar, Sweden;
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8
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Solick DI, Newman CM. Oceanic records of North American bats and implications for offshore wind energy development in the United States. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:14433-14447. [PMID: 34765117 PMCID: PMC8571582 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Offshore wind energy is a growing industry in the United States, and renewable energy from offshore wind is estimated to double the country's total electricity generation. There is growing concern that land-based wind development in North America is negatively impacting bat populations, primarily long-distance migrating bats, but the impacts to bats from offshore wind energy are unknown. Bats are associated with the terrestrial environment, but have been observed over the ocean. In this review, we synthesize historic and contemporary accounts of bats observed and acoustically recorded in the North American marine environment to ascertain the spatial and temporal distribution of bats flying offshore. We incorporate studies of offshore bats in Europe and of bat behavior at land-based wind energy studies to examine how offshore wind development could impact North American bat populations. We find that most offshore bat records are of long-distance migrating bats and records occur during autumn migration, the period of highest fatality rates for long-distance migrating bats at land-based wind facilities in North America. We summarize evidence that bats may be attracted to offshore turbines, potentially increasing their exposure to risk of collision. However, higher wind speeds offshore can potentially reduce the amount of time that bats are exposed to risk. We identify knowledge gaps and hypothesize that a combination of operational minimization strategies may be the most effective approach for reducing impacts to bats and maximizing offshore energy production.
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9
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Goldenberg SZ, Cryan PM, Gorresen PM, Fingersh LJ. Behavioral patterns of bats at a wind turbine confirm seasonality of fatality risk. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:4843-4853. [PMID: 33976852 PMCID: PMC8093663 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bat fatalities at wind energy facilities in North America are predominantly comprised of migratory, tree-dependent species, but it is unclear why these bats are at higher risk. Factors influencing bat susceptibility to wind turbines might be revealed by temporal patterns in their behaviors around these dynamic landscape structures. In northern temperate zones, fatalities occur mostly from July through October, but whether this reflects seasonally variable behaviors, passage of migrants, or some combination of factors remains unknown. In this study, we examined video imagery spanning one year in the state of Colorado in the United States, to characterize patterns of seasonal and nightly variability in bat behavior at a wind turbine. We detected bats on 177 of 306 nights representing approximately 3,800 hr of video and > 2,000 discrete bat events. We observed bats approaching the turbine throughout the night across all months during which bats were observed. Two distinct seasonal peaks of bat activity occurred in July and September, representing 30% and 42% increases in discrete bat events from the preceding months June and August, respectively. Bats exhibited behaviors around the turbine that increased in both diversity and duration in July and September. The peaks in bat events were reflected in chasing and turbine approach behaviors. Many of the bat events involved multiple approaches to the turbine, including when bats were displaced through the air by moving blades. The seasonal and nightly patterns we observed were consistent with the possibility that wind turbines invoke investigative behaviors in bats in late summer and autumn coincident with migration and that bats may return and fly close to wind turbines even after experiencing potentially disruptive stimuli like moving blades. Our results point to the need for a deeper understanding of the seasonality, drivers, and characteristics of bat movement across spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifra Z. Goldenberg
- Conservation Ecology CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteFront RoyalVAUSA
- Institute for Conservation ResearchSan Diego Zoo GlobalEscondidoCAUSA
| | | | - Paulo Marcos Gorresen
- University of Hawaii at HiloHiloHIUSA
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Science CenterHawaii Volcanoes National ParkHIUSA
| | - Lee Jay Fingersh
- U.S. Department of EnergyNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryNational Wind Technology CenterBoulderCOUSA
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10
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Voigt CC. Insect fatalities at wind turbines as biodiversity sinks. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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11
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Solick D, Pham D, Nasman K, Bay K. Bat Activity Rates do not Predict Bat Fatality Rates at Wind Energy Facilities. ACTA CHIROPTEROLOGICA 2020. [DOI: 10.3161/15081109acc2020.22.1.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donald Solick
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Environmental & Statistical Consultants, 2121 Midpoint Drive, Suite 201, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
| | - Diem Pham
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Environmental & Statistical Consultants, 2121 Midpoint Drive, Suite 201, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
| | - Kristen Nasman
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Environmental & Statistical Consultants, 2121 Midpoint Drive, Suite 201, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
| | - Kimberly Bay
- Western EcoSystems Technology, Environmental & Statistical Consultants, 2121 Midpoint Drive, Suite 201, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
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12
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Gaultier SP, Blomberg AS, Ijäs A, Vasko V, Vesterinen EJ, Brommer JE, Lilley TM. Bats and Wind Farms: The Role and Importance of the Baltic Sea Countries in the European Context of Power Transition and Biodiversity Conservation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:10385-10398. [PMID: 32830494 PMCID: PMC7497642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although labeled as environmentally friendly, wind power can have negative impacts on the environment, such as habitat destruction or wildlife fatalities. Considering the distribution and migratory characteristics of European bats, the negative effects of wind power should be addressed on an appropriate scale. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on interactions between wind farms and bats in Europe, and compares it with the situation in the countries of the European boreal biogeographic region. We analyzed data from papers published in international and national scientific journals, focusing on studies conducted in Europe. The issue of the impacts wind power has on bats is clearly overlooked in most of the countries of the European boreal region, with low volumes of research available on the topic. This is probably due to fewer wind farms in the area, making this recent issue a less-prioritized topic. However, the Baltic Sea, and the countries surrounding it, are of extreme importance with regards to bat migration, especially for the Pipistrellus nathusii. Therefore, more research on wind power and bats is needed in this region, as well as more cooperation between all the stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. Gaultier
- Biodiversity
Unit, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Anna S. Blomberg
- Department
of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Asko Ijäs
- Brahea
Centre/Centre for Maritime Studies, University
of Turku, Pohjoisranta 11 D 28100 Pori, Finland
| | - Ville Vasko
- Finnish
Museum of Natural History, University of
Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero J. Vesterinen
- Biodiversity
Unit, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5 20500 Turku, Finland
- Department
of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5 20500 Turku, Finland
- Department
of Insect Ecology, Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences, Almas Allé 8, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jon E. Brommer
- Department
of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Thomas M. Lilley
- Finnish
Museum of Natural History, University of
Helsinki, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
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Urban Sprawl, Food Subsidies and Power Lines: An Ecological Trap for Large Frugivorous Bats in Sri Lanka? DIVERSITY-BASEL 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12030094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Electrocution is one of the less known anthropogenic impacts likely affecting the bat population. We surveyed 925 km of overhead distribution power lines that supply energy to spreading urbanized areas in Sri Lanka, recording 300 electrocuted Indian flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus). Electrocutions were recorded up to 58 km from the nearest known colony, and all of them were in urbanized areas and very close ( X ¯ = 4.8 m) to the exotic fruiting trees cultivated in gardens. Predictable anthropogenic food subsidies, in the form of cultivated fruits and flowers, seem to attract flying foxes to urban habitats, which in turn become ecological traps given their high electrocution risk. However, electrocution rates greatly varied among the 352 power lines surveyed (0.00–24.6 indiv./km), being highest in power lines with four wires oriented vertically ( X ¯ = 0.92 indiv./km) and almost zero in power lines with wires oriented horizontally. Therefore, the latter design should be applied to projected new power lines and old vertically oriented lines in electrocution hotspots should be substituted. Given that flying foxes are key seed dispersers and pollinators, their foraging habitat selection change toward urban habitats together with high electrocution risk not only may contribute to their population decline but also put their ecosystem services at risk.
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14
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Smallwood KS, Bell DA. Effects of Wind Turbine Curtailment on Bird and Bat Fatalities. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas A. Bell
- East Bay Regional Park District, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court Oakland CA 94605 USA
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15
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Abstract
Wind energy siting to minimize impacts to bats would benefit from impact predictions following pre-construction surveys, but whether pre- or even post-construction activity patterns can predict fatalities remains unknown. We tested whether bat passage rates through rotor-swept airspace differ between groups of wind turbines where bat fatalities were found and not found during next-morning dog searches for fatalities. Passage rates differed significantly and averaged four times higher where freshly killed bats were found in next-morning fatality searches. Rates of near misses and risky flight behaviors also differed significantly between groups of turbines where bats were found and not found, and rate of near misses averaged eight times higher where bat fatalities were found in next-morning searches. Hours of turbine operation averaged significantly higher, winds averaged more westerly, and the moon averaged more visible among turbines where and when bat fatalities were found. Although dogs found only one of four bats seen colliding with turbine blades, they found many more bat fatalities than did human-only searchers at the same wind projects, and our fatality estimates were considerably higher. Our rates of observed bat collisions, adjusted for the rates of unseen collisions, would predict four to seven times the fresh fatalities we found using dogs between two wind projects. Despite markedly improved carcass detection through use of dogs, best estimates of bat fatalities might still be biased low due to crippling bias and search radius bias.
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16
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Huzzen BE, Hale AM, Bennett VJ. An effective survey method for studying volant species activity and behavior at tall structures. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8438. [PMID: 32095329 PMCID: PMC7023825 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of anthropogenic modification of air space on wildlife, particularly volant species, is not fully understood. Thus, it is essential to understand wildlife-interactions with tall structures to implement effective mitigation strategies. Yet, we are currently lacking standard protocols for visual surveys of wildlife behavior at such heights. Our study sought to determine an effective, repeatable method using readily available night vision and thermal technology to survey wildlife at tall structures. Using bats as the taxonomic group of interest, we (1) created a key to identify bats and their behavior, (2) compared the effectiveness of 2 different technologies, and (3) assessed optimal equipment placement to visually capture bat activity and behavior in proximity to wind turbine towers. For the latter, we tested thermal cameras at four distances from the base of the tower. The results of our study revealed that thermal cameras captured ∼34% more flying animals than night vision at a 2 m distance. However, due to the heat signature of the turbine towers themselves, it was challenging to identify behaviors and interactions that occurred in close proximity to the towers. In contrast, it was difficult to identify bats approaching the towers using night vision, yet we were able to clearly observe interactions with the towers themselves. With regards to equipment placement, we visually captured more bats with the thermal cameras placed 2 m from the tower base compared to farther distances. From our findings, we recommend that when using either thermal or night vision technology at tall structures, they be placed 2 m from the base to effectively observe interactions along the length of these structures. In addition, we further recommend that consideration be given to the use of these two technology types together to effectively conduct such surveys. If these survey techniques are incorporated into standard protocols, future surveys at a variety of tall structures are likely to become comparable and repeatable, thereby more effectively informing any mitigation strategies that may be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brynn E Huzzen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America
| | - Amanda M Hale
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America
| | - Victoria J Bennett
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States of America
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17
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Romano WB, Skalski JR, Townsend RL, Kinzie KW, Coppinger KD, Miller MF. Evaluation of an acoustic deterrent to reduce bat mortalities at an Illinois wind farm. WILDLIFE SOC B 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. Brad Romano
- Environmental and Wildlife Permitting Invenergy LLC One South Wacker Drive, Suite 1800 Chicago IL 60606 USA
| | - John R. Skalski
- Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1515 Seattle WA 98101 USA
| | - Richard L. Townsend
- Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1515 Seattle WA 98101 USA
| | - Kevin W. Kinzie
- GE Renewable Energy 300 Garlington Road Greenville SC 29615 USA
| | - Karyn D. Coppinger
- GE Renewable Energy Contractor 1080 Shadow Ridge Road Laporte CO 80535 USA
| | - Myron F. Miller
- GE Renewable Energy 327 Overlook Drive West Lafayette IN 47906 USA
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18
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Reimer JP, Baerwald EF, Barclay RMR. Echolocation activity of migratory bats at a wind energy facility: testing the feeding-attraction hypothesis to explain fatalities. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jesika P Reimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Erin F Baerwald
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Robert M R Barclay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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