Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines
Abstract
Wind turbines are known to cause bat fatalities worldwide. Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents are a potential solution to reduce impacts on bats, but few experimental field studies have been conducted at utility scale wind energy facilities. Our objective was to assess effectiveness of a recently developed deterrent for reducing bat fatalities at wind turbines in southern Texas, USA. We quantified fatalities at control (deterrents off) and treatment (deterrents on) wind turbines from 31 July through 30 October in 2017 and 2018, and assessed deterrent effectiveness using generalized linear mixed models. Our results indicate deterrents significantly reduced bat fatalities for Lasiurus cinereus and Tadarida brasiliensis by 78% and 54%, respectively. We observed no significant reduction in fatalities for other species in the genus Lasiurius. Thus, deterrents represent a potential impact reduction strategy for some bat species, but research is still warranted to improve species-specific effectiveness.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Wind Energy Technologies Office; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Duke Energy; NRG Systems; Bat Conservation International
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1617712
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1660120
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5000-75468
Journal ID: ISSN 2351-9894; S2351989420301827; e01099; PII: S2351989420301827
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308; TX T-156-R-1
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Global Ecology and Conservation
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Global Ecology and Conservation Journal Volume: 24 Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 2351-9894
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- Netherlands
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 17 WIND ENERGY; bat fatality; echolocation; impact reduction; ultrasonic acoustic deterrent; wind energy
Citation Formats
Weaver, Sara P., Hein, Cris D., Simpson, Thomas R., Evans, Jonah W., and Castro-Arellano, Ivan. Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines. Netherlands: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01099.
Weaver, Sara P., Hein, Cris D., Simpson, Thomas R., Evans, Jonah W., & Castro-Arellano, Ivan. Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines. Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01099
Weaver, Sara P., Hein, Cris D., Simpson, Thomas R., Evans, Jonah W., and Castro-Arellano, Ivan. Fri .
"Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines". Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01099.
@article{osti_1617712,
title = {Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines},
author = {Weaver, Sara P. and Hein, Cris D. and Simpson, Thomas R. and Evans, Jonah W. and Castro-Arellano, Ivan},
abstractNote = {Wind turbines are known to cause bat fatalities worldwide. Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents are a potential solution to reduce impacts on bats, but few experimental field studies have been conducted at utility scale wind energy facilities. Our objective was to assess effectiveness of a recently developed deterrent for reducing bat fatalities at wind turbines in southern Texas, USA. We quantified fatalities at control (deterrents off) and treatment (deterrents on) wind turbines from 31 July through 30 October in 2017 and 2018, and assessed deterrent effectiveness using generalized linear mixed models. Our results indicate deterrents significantly reduced bat fatalities for Lasiurus cinereus and Tadarida brasiliensis by 78% and 54%, respectively. We observed no significant reduction in fatalities for other species in the genus Lasiurius. Thus, deterrents represent a potential impact reduction strategy for some bat species, but research is still warranted to improve species-specific effectiveness.},
doi = {10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01099},
journal = {Global Ecology and Conservation},
number = C,
volume = 24,
place = {Netherlands},
year = {Fri May 08 00:00:00 EDT 2020},
month = {Fri May 08 00:00:00 EDT 2020}
}
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