Species composition and mortality of bats at the Osório Wind Farm, southern Brazil

Barros, Marília A. S.; Magalhães, Rodrigo Gastal de; Rui, Ana Maria

doi:10.1080/01650521.2014.1001595

Cited by 24 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…One such impact of concern is mortality for species prone to collision with turbine blades, such as birds [ 5 – 11 ]. Old World vultures appear especially prone to collisions due to their flight behaviour, such that wind farms might collectively pose serious threat to populations [ 12 – 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A balanced solution to the cumulative threat of industrialized wind farm development on cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in south-eastern Europe

Vasilakis

Whitfield²,

Kati

2017

PLoS ONE

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Wind farm development can combat climate change but may also threaten bird populations’ persistence through collision with wind turbine blades if such development is improperly planned strategically and cumulatively. Such improper planning may often occur. Numerous wind farms are planned in a region hosting the only cinereous vulture population in south-eastern Europe. We combined range use modelling and a Collision Risk Model (CRM) to predict the cumulative collision mortality for cinereous vulture under all operating and proposed wind farms. Four different vulture avoidance rates were considered in the CRM. Cumulative collision mortality was expected to be eight to ten times greater in the future (proposed and operating wind farms) than currently (operating wind farms), equivalent to 44% of the current population (103 individuals) if all proposals are authorized (2744 MW). Even under the most optimistic scenario whereby authorized proposals will not collectively exceed the national target for wind harnessing in the study area (960 MW), cumulative collision mortality would still be high (17% of current population) and likely lead to population extinction. Under any wind farm proposal scenario, over 92% of expected deaths would occur in the core area of the population, further implying inadequate spatial planning and implementation of relevant European legislation with scant regard for governmental obligations to protect key species. On the basis of a sensitivity map we derive a spatially explicit solution that could meet the national target of wind harnessing with a minimum conservation cost of less than 1% population loss providing that the population mortality (5.2%) caused by the operating wind farms in the core area would be totally mitigated. Under other scenarios, the vulture population would probably be at serious risk of extinction. Our ‘win-win’ approach is appropriate to other potential conflicts where wind farms may cumulatively threaten wildlife populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A balanced solution to the cumulative threat of industrialized wind farm development on cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in south-eastern Europe

Vasilakis

Whitfield²,

Kati

2017

PLoS ONE

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“…In the absence of population estimates for the European free-tailed bat in most of its distribution range, greater concern among environmental authorities is called for. Deaths of other species of the same family, particularly those in tropical regions, are commonly reported, such as for the Egyptian free-tailed Bat Tadarida aegyptiaca in South Africa (Doty and Martin, 2013), and the Brazilian free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis in South America (Barros et al, 2015). The impact on this latter species is severe; 245 of the 336 bat fatalities reported from Brazil corresponded to Brazilian free-tailed bats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

European free–tailed bat fatalities at wind farms in southern Spain

Muñoz

Farfán

2020

Anim. Biodiv. Conserv.

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Wind is increasingly used as a renewable energy all around the world. Although wind turbines help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the costs to wildlife cannot be overlooked. To date, monitoring programs and research have mainly focused on the impact of wind farms on birds but negative effects on bats have also reported. Here we compile information related to European free–tailed bat deaths at wind farms in southern Spain. In a world where the demand for renewable energy is rising we highlight the need to better understand and prevent bat fatalities.

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“…Furthermore, RN has currently 125 wind farms, being the largest producer of wind energy in Brazil (ABBEólica 2017). Wind turbine facilities can cause high mortality among aerial insectivore bats (Barros et al 2015;Schuster et al 2015;Hein & Schirmacher 2016;O'Shea et al 2016;Frick et al 2017). Bat occurrences in the areas of wind farms, as well as the possible impacts of wind turbines on bats, are still unknown (Bernard et al 2014).…”

Section: Conservation Panoramamentioning

confidence: 99%

The bats of Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil

et al. 2018

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Rio Grande do Norte is one of the smallest states in Brazil but has a rich diversity of ecosystems, including Caatinga vegetation, remnants of Atlantic Forest, coastal habitats, mangroves and large karstic areas with caves. However, its chiropteran fauna is little known, and the state contains conspicuous gaps of information on the occurrence and distribution of bats in Brazil. In order to reduce this information gap, based on a review of scientific literature and regional mammal collections, we list 42 species of bats, including new occurrences for 13 species and discussion on their conservation status. Results show that more than half (54%) of the recorded species are phyllostomid bats, and about one third of the bats in the state roosts in underground cavities. The Caatinga harbored the highest bat richness in the state, including the occurrence of four vulnerable species (Furipterus horrens, Lonchorhina aurita, Natalus macrourus and Xeronycteris vieirai). The Atlantic Forest needs to be more sampled, including mangroves, coastal habitats and areas of Caatinga in the central region of the state (Borborema highlands), which are virtually unsurveyed. Although the recent increase of studies on bats in the state, future studies should complement conventional mistnetting with active roost search and bioacoustical records in order to obtain better data for unraveling the bat fauna of Rio Grande do Norte.

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Species composition and mortality of bats at the Osório Wind Farm, southern Brazil

Cited by 24 publications

References 44 publications

A balanced solution to the cumulative threat of industrialized wind farm development on cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in south-eastern Europe

A balanced solution to the cumulative threat of industrialized wind farm development on cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in south-eastern Europe

European free–tailed bat fatalities at wind farms in southern Spain

The bats of Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil

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