Wind energy facilities affect resource selection of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus

Taubmann, Julia; Kämmerle, Jim‐Lino; Andrén, Henrik; Braunisch, Veronika; Storch, Ilse; Fiedler, Wolfgang; Suchant, Rudi; Coppes, Joy

doi:10.2981/wlb.00737

Cited by 8 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…By contrast, high turning angles (i.e., turning around) together with slightly lower movement speeds are more indicative of GPS scatter, which suggests that capercaillie spend more time being stationary, which might support a predator avoidance response. A behavioral avoidance of areas that receive a high degree of wind turbine effects (e.g., shadow, noise, visibility) has already been demonstrated for capercaillie in Sweden (Taubmann et al., 2021 ) and elsewhere, with no indication for habituation (Coppes, Kämmerle, et al., 2020 ). We thus supplement previous findings on turbine effects with a more mechanistic understanding, indicating that the use of strongly affected areas may be related to higher costs of coping with this stressor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…They are popular game birds and, in many places, of high conservation interest owing to declining trends in reproductive success and abundance (Jahren et al., 2016 ; Storch, 2007 ). Behavioral reactions of grouse to wind turbines have been reported by several studies (Coppes, Braunisch, et al., 2020 ; Coppes, Kämmerle, et al., 2020 ; Taubmann et al., 2021 ). Notwithstanding a historically large scientific interest in the study of grouse population parameters, behavioral studies remain comparatively rare, owing to the difficulty of observing their behavior in the field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Another uncertainty concerns the question of how to scale up the population‐level consequences of movement (Hebblewhite & Haydon, 2010 ; Morales et al., 2010 ), for instance, with regard to our findings on turbine visibility (Figure 2 ). Wind turbines negatively affect habitat selection in capercaillie (Coppes, Kämmerle, et al., 2020 ; Taubmann et al., 2021 ). However, this is arguably insufficient as proof that slower movement corresponds to a negative effect, for example, owing to increased predator avoidance behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its detailed observation may thus be of great relevance for science and conservation alike. Examples include patterns in migration and dispersal (Cagnacci et al, 2011;Killeen et al, 2014;Walton et al, 2018), habitat selection in response to environmental cues (Fortin et al, 2005;Roever et al, 2010;Taubmann et al, 2021), identifying movement corridors (Chetkiewicz et al, 2006;Squires et al, 2013;Thirgood et al, 2004) or witnessing inter-specific interactions (Dröge et al, 2017;Eriksen et al, 2009). The study of animal movement has been revolutionized by animalborne tags (Cagnacci et al, 2010;Morales et al, 2004;Tomkiewicz et al, 2010), particularly with the advent of GPS tags (Tomkiewicz et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Behavioral reactions of grouse to wind turbines have been reported by several studies Coppes, Kämmerle, et al, 2020;Taubmann et al, 2021). Notwithstanding a historically large scientific interest in the study of grouse population parameters, behavioral studies remain comparatively rare, owing to the difficulty of observing their behavior in the field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental and seasonal correlates of capercaillie movement traits in a Swedish wind farm

Kämmerle

Taubmann

Andrén

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Animals continuously interact with their environment through behavioral decisions, rendering the appropriate choice of movement speed and directionality an important phenotypic trait. Anthropogenic activities may alter animal behavior, including movement. A detailed understanding of movement decisions is therefore of great relevance for science and conservation alike. The study of movement decisions in relation to environmental and seasonal cues requires continuous observation of movement behavior, recently made possible by high‐resolution telemetry. We studied movement traits of 13 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), a mainly ground‐moving forest bird species of conservation interest, over two summer seasons in a Swedish windfarm using high‐resolution GPS tracking data (5‐min sampling interval). We filtered and removed unreliable movement steps using accelerometer data and step characteristics. We explored variation in movement speed and directionality in relation to environmental and seasonal covariates using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs). We found evidence for clear daily and seasonal variation in speed and directionality of movement that reflected behavioral adjustments to biological and environmental seasonality. Capercaillie moved slower when more turbines were visible and faster close to turbine access roads. Movement speed and directionality were highest on open bogs, lowest on recent clear‐cuts (<5 y.o.), and intermediate in all types of forest. Our results provide novel insights into the seasonal and environmental correlates of capercaillie movement patterns and supplement previous behavioral observations on lekking behavior and wind turbine avoidance with a more mechanistic understanding.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental and seasonal correlates of capercaillie movement traits in a Swedish wind farm

Kämmerle

Taubmann

Andrén

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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No evidence of increased fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) due to wind turbines

Coppes

Kämmerle

Grünschachner‐Berger³

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Wind energy facilities (WEFs) are a relatively novel impact on wildlife habitats, and an increasing number of studies show negative effects on wildlife. Increased stress‐associated hormone levels are an indicator of disturbance effects, and measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FCM) levels is an established noninvasive method to study disturbance effects on wildlife. We studied whether FCM levels of capercaillie ( Tetrao urogallus ), a locally threatened forest bird species with proven behavioral responses to WEF, are affected by WEF. Using a before–after–control–impact (BACI) study design at sites in Austria, Germany and Sweden we investigated whether mean FCM levels changed after the construction of WEF and whether there was spatial variation in FCM levels in relation to WEF impacts. By analyzing 553 fecal samples from five wind farms and five control sites, we did not find evidence of increased FCM levels due to WEF when comparing wind farm sites before and after WEF construction with control sites. We further could not detect any spatial variation in FCM levels at wind farms related to turbine effects. There was, however, temporal variation in FCM, with lower FCM levels toward the end of the winter season. Differences among individual study sites emphasize the importance of larger studies with a BACI study design. Facing some methodological limitations, we currently find no evidence for an increase in FCM levels in capercaillie due to WEF.

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Using individual‐based habitat selection analyses to understand the nuances of habitat use in an anthropogenic landscape: a case study using greater sage‐grouse trying to raise young in an oil and gas field

Kirol,

Fedy

2023

Wildlife Biology

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Habitat selection analyses conducted at an individual level may reveal patterns in selection not apparent when individuals are pooled in population‐level approaches. Using GPS transmitters that gather high‐resolution location data, we explored fine‐scale habitat selection and space use within home ranges of female greater sage‐grouse Centrocercus urophasianus that raised young (brood‐rearing sage‐grouse) in an oil and gas development area. To evaluate fine‐scale habitat selection of brood‐rearing sage‐grouse we used a two‐stage approach. First, we developed models for each individual (i.e. individual‐level modeling) and evaluated individual‐level responses to modified habitats and infrastructure. Second, we averaged individual‐level estimates using a bootstrap approach to make population‐level inference. The average home range size during brood‐rearing in our study, from nest hatch to six weeks, was 0.85 ± 0.21 km2. Individual and population‐level results indicated that brood‐rearing females consistently selected for natural vegetation and avoided disturbed surfaces at a fine spatial scale. Our study area included substantial areas of recent (≤ 10 years) habitat reclamation which females also avoided. Visible power lines consistently led to avoidance behavior. In addition to consistent patterns of habitat selection, our individual models demonstrated variability and contrasting behaviors in how brood‐rearing females responded to specific infrastructure features and anthropogenic water bodies. At the population‐level anthropogenic water bodies were avoided but at the individual‐level the intensity of avoidance was variable among individuals. Individual variability was often explained by the age of the brood‐rearing female (first year or adult). First year females were more likely than adults to use habitats close to infrastructure and consistently established home ranges in areas with more surface disturbance and infrastructure when compared to adults. Our results provide new insights into fine‐scale habitat‐selection strategies used by female sage‐grouse with broods in an area where oil and gas infrastructure is widespread and cannot be avoided.

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Wind energy facilities affect resource selection of capercaillie Tetrao urogallus

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 8 publications

References 68 publications

Environmental and seasonal correlates of capercaillie movement traits in a Swedish wind farm

Environmental and seasonal correlates of capercaillie movement traits in a Swedish wind farm

No evidence of increased fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels in capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) due to wind turbines

Using individual‐based habitat selection analyses to understand the nuances of habitat use in an anthropogenic landscape: a case study using greater sage‐grouse trying to raise young in an oil and gas field

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