BIBLIOS

Document type
Book chapters


Title
Ecological response of breeding wolves to windfarms: insights from two case studies in Portugal.

Participants in the publication
Álvares, F. (Author)
Rio-Maior, H. (Author)
Roque, S. (Author)
Nakamura, M. (Author)
Petrucci-Fonseca, F. (Author)
cE3c

Summary
Studies on the impacts of wind power on the abundance of terrestrial mammals\\n(excluding bats) in wind farms are few and show varying results. Studies on disturbance\\nfrom noise and visual cues from wind turbines are particularly scarce, and the\\nresults are inconclusive. Nevertheless, a significant but temporary avoidance of wind\\nfarms during construction has been reported for large carnivores and ungulates.\\nStudies addressing the effects of disturbance from the maintenance and operation\\nof wind farms are nearly absent, but studies on similar types of roads and traffic in\\ngas fields indicate some avoidance of the roads, even those with very low traffic.\\nAnother aspect of roads is that they may increase public access, with traffic potentially\\nexceeding that required for maintenance, and a potential increase also in outdoor\\nrecreation and off-road vehicles. Large carnivores and ungulates are known to be\\nparticularly sensitive to these types of human disturbances. Roads and power lines\\nassociated with wind power can also function as barriers to movement for both smaller\\nand larger species, or conversely roads can act as corridors for movement. Habitat conversion\\nmay also benefit some species by providing denning habitat, forage or prey.\\nThe total effects of wind farms on non-flying terrestrial mammals are expected to\\ndepend on species, degree of habituation, landscape type and pressure from existing\\nhuman influence in the area, and are therefore difficult to predict. Particular concern\\nis raised for larger mammals as current onshore wind power development can target\\nrefugia for large carnivores or important grazing or migration areas for ungulates.\\nEfforts should be made to minimise the negative effects on these species as a precautionary\\nprinciple. New research and scientifically based monitoring will strengthen the\\nknowledge base and build a foundation for avoiding negative effects.

Editor(s)
Perrow, M.R.


Institution
cE3c/FCUL

Where published
Wildlife and wind farms: Conflicts and solutions

Publication Identifiers
ISBN - 9781784271190

Address
Exeter UK

Organizers
Jan Olof Helldin, Anna Skarin, Wiebke Neumann, Mattias Olsson, Jens Jung, Jonas Kindberg, Niklas Lindberg and Fredrik Widemo

Publisher
Pelagic Publishing



Keywords
Ecology conservation zoology ornithology-birds-birdwatching

Tags
Bats birds conservation ecology wildlife wind farms wind turbine