Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Bat Mortality Caused by Wind-Energy Turbines in Southwestern Minnesota
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
John Krenz
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Second Mentor's Name
Brock McMilla
Second Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Second Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Renewable energy resources such as wind and solar are becoming increasingly popular because of the ongoing depletion of oil reserves and the negative effects of burning fossil fuels. However, previous studies of birds, and possibly bats, have demonstrated that wind-energy turbines may negatively affect organisms that fly. We hypothesized that the species composition and seasonal timing of bats killed by wind-turbines would be similar to previous years. We searched for bat carcasses below wind turbines at sites along Buffalo Ridge in southwestern Minnesota during July through October 2000. We found 72 fatalities comprising four species of bats during biweekly searches at a sub-sample of 69 turbines. Based on the number of fatalities observed, we estimated that total mortality at the site was 528 bats, which was similar to previous years. There were no significant differences in species composition or seasonal timing of bat fatalities. Although mortality seemed high, there was no evidence that wind-energy development was negatively affecting the bat populations in southwestern Minnesota.
Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Bat Mortality Caused by Wind-Energy Turbines in Southwestern Minnesota
CSU
Renewable energy resources such as wind and solar are becoming increasingly popular because of the ongoing depletion of oil reserves and the negative effects of burning fossil fuels. However, previous studies of birds, and possibly bats, have demonstrated that wind-energy turbines may negatively affect organisms that fly. We hypothesized that the species composition and seasonal timing of bats killed by wind-turbines would be similar to previous years. We searched for bat carcasses below wind turbines at sites along Buffalo Ridge in southwestern Minnesota during July through October 2000. We found 72 fatalities comprising four species of bats during biweekly searches at a sub-sample of 69 turbines. Based on the number of fatalities observed, we estimated that total mortality at the site was 528 bats, which was similar to previous years. There were no significant differences in species composition or seasonal timing of bat fatalities. Although mortality seemed high, there was no evidence that wind-energy development was negatively affecting the bat populations in southwestern Minnesota.
