Bat flight height monitored from wind masts predicts mortality risk at wind farms

Roemer, Charlotte; Disca, Thierry; Coulon, Aurélie; Bas, Yves

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2017.09.002

Cited by 54 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This innovative method could be included in EIA studies to perform before and after surveys. Such a flight behaviour monitoring system can also be included in EIAs concerned with any kind of development projects, including, for example, wind turbine establishment (Roemer, Disca, Coulon, & Bas, 2017…”

Section: Usability Of the Afpr Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat overpasses: An insufficient solution to restore habitat connectivity across roads

Claireau

Bas

Puechmaille

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Roads have many negative effects on wildlife, including their role in habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation affects bats during their daily movements between roosts and foraging areas. As bats are protected in Europe, developers must implement specific mitigation measures that are hierarchically structured to achieve a null net impact. However, very few specific mitigation measures have been undertaken specifically for bats. Bat overpasses (e.g. gantries) are among proposed improvements intended to reduce the impact of roads, but they have rarely been tested. The effectiveness of overpasses in facilitating safe road crossing of bats is critical for justifying the implementation of this mitigation measure.We therefore assessed whether bat overpasses are effectively used by bats.2. We studied three bat overpasses with different designs in France. We developed an innovative method to characterize bat crossings using acoustic flight path reconstruction (AFPR). We used six pairs of stereo acoustic recorders in different habitat types that were located on both sides of the road, and operated simultaneously throughout the night.3. Recording data contained 57,941 bat passes and 284 bat crossings from six species of bats at the three study sites. Our results suggest that crossings are more numerous if an overpass is located where bat commuting routes have been identified by environmental impact assessment. However, we found that the proportion of bat crossings along the commuting route was the same with or without an overpass; thus highlighting that bat overpasses do not fully restore habitat connectivity. Synthesis and applications.Our study demonstrates that acoustic flight path reconstruction (AFPR) is a useful approach to obtain information on bat flight behaviour. We also emphasize the importance of field testing the effectiveness of mitigation measures, such as those intended to offset the impact of roads on 574 |

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Section: Usability Of the Afpr Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat overpasses: An insufficient solution to restore habitat connectivity across roads

Claireau

Bas

Puechmaille

et al. 2018

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Moreover, at this distance both night vision and thermal cameras can be readily angled to incorporate different areas of the turbine in their field-of-view, whether it be the entire rotor swept zone or the majority of the turbine monopole and nacelle. Studies, such as Roemer et al (2017), that set out to determine rates of bat or bird collisions with wind turbines, whether bat activity can be used to predict fatality, or monitor the effectiveness of operational minimization strategies, would likely benefit from using thermal cameras at 25 m from the wind turbine base.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An effective survey method for studying volant species activity and behavior at tall structures

Huzzen

Hale

Bennett

2020

PeerJ

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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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“…For example, comparing the night vision and thermal cameras observations of the flying animals, 34% were detected with thermal cameras and not with night vision technology, whereas only 1% were detected with night vision technology and not with thermal cameras. Moreover, at this distance both night vision and thermal cameras can Manuscript to be reviewed Roemer et al (2017), that set out to determine rates of bat or bird collisions with wind turbines, whether bat activity can be used to predict fatality, or monitor the effectiveness of operational minimization strategies, would likely benefit from using thermal cameras at 25 m from the wind turbine base. In comparison, if the goal of a study is to specifically explore why bats are coming into contact with wind turbines or other tall structures, then a set-up 2 m from the base of the structure would optimize the resolution needed to effectively conduct behavioral observation surveys.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "An effective survey method for studying volant species activity and behavior at tall structures (v0.1)"

Hayes¹

2020

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Anthropogenic modification of air space presents a growing threat to wildlife, particularly volant species. 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 4 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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Bat flight height monitored from wind masts predicts mortality risk at wind farms

Cited by 54 publications

References 24 publications

Bat overpasses: An insufficient solution to restore habitat connectivity across roads

Bat overpasses: An insufficient solution to restore habitat connectivity across roads

An effective survey method for studying volant species activity and behavior at tall structures

Peer Review #2 of "An effective survey method for studying volant species activity and behavior at tall structures (v0.1)"

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