Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity
While the effects of wind farms on bats are widely studied, effects of small wind turbines (SWTs, here <25m hub height) remain understudied. SWTs are installed in a wider range of habitats compared to wind farms and their effect on wildlife can therefore be different. While single SWTs can advers...
Published in: | Animal Conservation |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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2017
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Online Access: | https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/landscapescale-effects-of-single-and-multiple-small-wind-turbines-on-bat-activity(aaa98be0-f42f-4db4-adcc-0f2e566562d1).html https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/12659/1/Minderman_2016_Landscape_AC_AAM.pdf http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12331/abstract;jsessionid=A044407DB72A212F6C1B097BBA354BDB.f04t02 |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/aaa98be0-f42f-4db4-adcc-0f2e566562d1 2023-05-15T17:59:56+02:00 Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity Minderman, Jeroen Gillis, Mairi Daly, Helen Park, Kirsty 2017-10 application/pdf https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/landscapescale-effects-of-single-and-multiple-small-wind-turbines-on-bat-activity(aaa98be0-f42f-4db4-adcc-0f2e566562d1).html https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/12659/1/Minderman_2016_Landscape_AC_AAM.pdf http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12331/abstract;jsessionid=A044407DB72A212F6C1B097BBA354BDB.f04t02 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Minderman , J , Gillis , M , Daly , H & Park , K 2017 , ' Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity ' , Animal Conservation , vol. 20 , no. 5 , pp. 455-462 . https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 Cumulative effects Small wind turbines Renewable energy Planning Landscape-style effects Bat activity Pipistrelle Small wind turbine article 2017 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 2022-06-02T07:46:55Z While the effects of wind farms on bats are widely studied, effects of small wind turbines (SWTs, here <25m hub height) remain understudied. SWTs are installed in a wider range of habitats compared to wind farms and their effect on wildlife can therefore be different. While single SWTs can adversely affect bat activity in their immediate vicinity, they are often installed in clusters, and to date no data are available on whether installation of more than one turbine increases the likelihood of adverse effects on bats. Here, we test whether (1) SWT installations affect the activity of two species of bat (the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and soprano pipistrelle P. pygmaeus ) on a landscape scale (here defined as up to 500m from SWTs) and (2) such an effect is stronger when multiple (2-4) SWTs are installed. We show that, after accounting for potentially confounding effects (e.g. variation in habitat and weather), (1) mean P. pipistrellus activity is lower at 0-100m compared to 200-500m from SWTs, and (2) the effect on P. pygmaeus activity tends to be similar and stronger in multiple SWT sites, although evidence for the latter is limited. We conclude that in some cases, adverse effects of SWTs on bat activity may be measurable over longer spatial scales (within 100m) than previously thought. However, combined with earlier findings, it is likely that the bulk of such effects operate within relative close proximity of SWTs (<25m). Moreover, although these effects may be species-specific, with e.g. P. pygmaeus potentially more strongly affected by multiple SWT sites, this requires further data. These findings are highly relevant to decision-making aimed at minimizing any adverse effects of wind turbines, specifically single- vs. multiple SWT developments, on wildlife. Article in Journal/Newspaper Pipistrellus pipistrellus University of St Andrews: Research Portal Animal Conservation 20 5 455 462 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
Cumulative effects Small wind turbines Renewable energy Planning Landscape-style effects Bat activity Pipistrelle Small wind turbine |
spellingShingle |
Cumulative effects Small wind turbines Renewable energy Planning Landscape-style effects Bat activity Pipistrelle Small wind turbine Minderman, Jeroen Gillis, Mairi Daly, Helen Park, Kirsty Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
topic_facet |
Cumulative effects Small wind turbines Renewable energy Planning Landscape-style effects Bat activity Pipistrelle Small wind turbine |
description |
While the effects of wind farms on bats are widely studied, effects of small wind turbines (SWTs, here <25m hub height) remain understudied. SWTs are installed in a wider range of habitats compared to wind farms and their effect on wildlife can therefore be different. While single SWTs can adversely affect bat activity in their immediate vicinity, they are often installed in clusters, and to date no data are available on whether installation of more than one turbine increases the likelihood of adverse effects on bats. Here, we test whether (1) SWT installations affect the activity of two species of bat (the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus and soprano pipistrelle P. pygmaeus ) on a landscape scale (here defined as up to 500m from SWTs) and (2) such an effect is stronger when multiple (2-4) SWTs are installed. We show that, after accounting for potentially confounding effects (e.g. variation in habitat and weather), (1) mean P. pipistrellus activity is lower at 0-100m compared to 200-500m from SWTs, and (2) the effect on P. pygmaeus activity tends to be similar and stronger in multiple SWT sites, although evidence for the latter is limited. We conclude that in some cases, adverse effects of SWTs on bat activity may be measurable over longer spatial scales (within 100m) than previously thought. However, combined with earlier findings, it is likely that the bulk of such effects operate within relative close proximity of SWTs (<25m). Moreover, although these effects may be species-specific, with e.g. P. pygmaeus potentially more strongly affected by multiple SWT sites, this requires further data. These findings are highly relevant to decision-making aimed at minimizing any adverse effects of wind turbines, specifically single- vs. multiple SWT developments, on wildlife. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Minderman, Jeroen Gillis, Mairi Daly, Helen Park, Kirsty |
author_facet |
Minderman, Jeroen Gillis, Mairi Daly, Helen Park, Kirsty |
author_sort |
Minderman, Jeroen |
title |
Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
title_short |
Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
title_full |
Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
title_fullStr |
Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
title_sort |
landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/landscapescale-effects-of-single-and-multiple-small-wind-turbines-on-bat-activity(aaa98be0-f42f-4db4-adcc-0f2e566562d1).html https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/10023/12659/1/Minderman_2016_Landscape_AC_AAM.pdf http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acv.12331/abstract;jsessionid=A044407DB72A212F6C1B097BBA354BDB.f04t02 |
genre |
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
genre_facet |
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
op_source |
Minderman , J , Gillis , M , Daly , H & Park , K 2017 , ' Landscape-scale effects of single- and multiple small wind turbines on bat activity ' , Animal Conservation , vol. 20 , no. 5 , pp. 455-462 . https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12331 |
container_title |
Animal Conservation |
container_volume |
20 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
455 |
op_container_end_page |
462 |
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1766168833594228736 |