Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective

Chock, Rachel Y.; Clucas, Barbara; Peterson, Elizabeth K.; Blackwell, Bradley F.; Blumstein, Daniel T.; Church, Kathleen; Fernández‐Juricic, Esteban; Francescoli, Gabriel; Greggor, Alison L.; Kemp, Paul S.; Pinho, Gabriela Medeiros de; Sanzenbacher, Peter M.; Schulte, Bruce A.; Toni, Pauline

doi:10.1111/csp2.319

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 78 publications

(118 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Instead, we suspect that this difference is likely more influenced by the location along the flyway and the habitat in which the facility is sited than by the mode of energy generation. Migrants searching for a stopover site with water in the deserts of Southern California may be at particular risk of fatalities at solar‐energy facilities because the reflection of polarized light on solar panels from the sun, moon, or artificial sources is hypothesized to attract insects or create an artificial “lake effect” that attracts some bird species (Chock et al., 2021). Ten of the 18 species found at solar facilities are not expected to use the habitat in which they died, and all but one of those species were composed of >50% of nonlocal individuals (Appendix S11).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geographic extent of bird populations affected by renewable‐energy development

Vander Zanden,

Nelson,

Conkling

et al. 2024

Conservation Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Bird populations are declining globally. Wind and solar energy can reduce emissions of fossil fuels that drive anthropogenic climate change, yet renewable‐energy production represents a potential threat to bird species. Surveys to assess potential effects at renewable‐energy facilities are exclusively local, and the geographic extent encompassed by birds killed at these facilities is largely unknown, which creates challenges for minimizing and mitigating the population‐level and cumulative effects of these fatalities. We performed geospatial analyses of stable hydrogen isotope data obtained from feathers of 871 individuals of 24 bird species found dead at solar‐ and wind‐energy facilities in California (USA). Most species had individuals with a mix of origins, ranging from 23% to 98% nonlocal. Mean minimum distances to areas of likely origin for nonlocal individuals were as close as 97 to >1250 km, and these minimum distances were larger for species found at solar‐energy facilities in deserts than at wind‐energy facilities in grasslands (Cohen's d = 6.5). Fatalities were drawn from an estimated 30–100% of species’ desingated ranges, and this percentage was significantly smaller for species with large ranges found at wind facilities (Pearson's r = −0.67). Temporal patterns in the geographic origin of fatalities suggested that migratory movements and nonmigratory movements, such as dispersal and nomadism, influence exposure to fatality risk for these birds. Our results illustrate the power of using stable isotope data to assess the geographic extent of renewable‐energy fatalities on birds. As the buildout of renewable‐energy facilities continues, accurate assessment of the geographic footprint of wildlife fatalities can be used to inform compensatory mitigation for their population‐level and cumulative effects.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The geographic extent of bird populations affected by renewable‐energy development

Vander Zanden,

Nelson,

Conkling

et al. 2024

Conservation Biology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Passing the animals safely requires safe access to gates. However, there are some positive impacts of the construction of solar power plants, i.e., covering small animals [182]. The impacts of solar systems on human health are less than other conventional resources because of lower emissions of hazardous gases.…”

Section: Environmental Effects Of Solar Photovoltaic Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and Solutions in Solar Photovoltaic Technology Life Cycle

Ullah,

Ahmad,

Sarfaraz

et al. 2023

ChemBioEng Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Solar energy offers a clean and abundant alternative to the challenges associated with fossil fuels such as greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. The review focuses on the environmental impacts of solar photovoltaic technology throughout its life cycle, from manufacturing to disposal, and highlights potential hazards associated with using and producing photovoltaic technology, including releasing toxic gases and other trace elements into the environment. The paper concludes by summarizing various recycling techniques that can be employed to address these challenges and to take full advantage of solar photovoltaic technology without causing harm to the environment.

show abstract

“…Renewable EI have negative effects on wildlife due to the direct loss of habitat in distribution areas, causing fragmentation and altering their connectivity (Chock et al, 2021;Marques et al, 2014;Turney and Fthanakis, 2011). Wind EI causes mortality of birds, bats and insects; obstacle effect in movements; and habitat loss (Allison et al, 2019;Arnett et al, 2016;Drewitt and Langston, 2006;Gómez-Catasús et al, 2018;Pearse et al, 2021;Voigt, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detailed mapping of protected species distribution, an essential tool for renewable energy planning in agroecosystems

Palacı́n

Farias

Alonso

2023

Biological Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective

Cited by 17 publications

References 78 publications

The geographic extent of bird populations affected by renewable‐energy development

The geographic extent of bird populations affected by renewable‐energy development

Challenges and Solutions in Solar Photovoltaic Technology Life Cycle

Detailed mapping of protected species distribution, an essential tool for renewable energy planning in agroecosystems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About