Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Fernández-Bellon, Darío; Wilson, Mark W.; Irwin, Sandra; O'Halloran, John
2019
Unknown
Conservation Biology
Effects of development of wind energy and associated changes in land use on bird densities in upland areas
Published
Optional Fields
Bird guilds Displacement Habitat modification Land‐use change Uplands Wind farms Wind turbines Cambio de uso de suelo Campos eólicos Desplazamiento Gremios de aves Modificación de habitat Tierras altas Turbinas de viento 鸟类同资源种团 被迫迁徙 生境改造 土地利用变化 山地 风电场 风力涡轮机
33
2
413
422
Wind energy development is the most recent of many pressures on upland bird communities and their habitats. Studies of birds in relation to wind energy development have focused on effects of direct mortality, but the importance of indirect effects (e.g., displacement, habitat loss) on avian community diversity and stability is increasingly being recognized. We used a control-impact study in combination with a gradient design to assess the effects of wind farms on upland bird densities and on bird species grouped by habitat association (forest and open-habitat species). We conducted 506 point count surveys at 12 wind-farm and 12 control sites in Ireland during 2 breeding seasons (2012 and 2013). Total bird densities were lower at wind farms than at control sites, and the greatest differences occurred close to turbines. Densities of forest species were significantly lower within 100 m of turbines than at greater distances, and this difference was mediated by habitat modifications associated with wind-farm development. In particular, reductions in forest cover adjacent to turbines was linked to the observed decrease in densities of forest species. Open-habitat species’ densities were lower at wind farms but were not related to distance from turbines and were negatively related to size of the wind farm. This suggests that, for these species, wind-farm effects may occur at a landscape scale. Our findings indicate that the scale and intensity of the displacement effects of wind farms on upland birds depends on bird species’ habitat associations and that the observed effects are mediated by changes in land use associated with wind-farm construction. This highlights the importance of construction effects and siting of turbines, tracks, and other infrastructure in understanding the impacts of wind farms on biodiversity.
0888-8892
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cobi.13239
10.1111/cobi.13239
Grant Details