Forest gaps around wind turbines attract bat species with high collision risk

Abstract

The global demand for renewable energy has led to an expansion of wind energy production at forested sites. The deployment and operation of turbines requires the clearing of forest areas, resulting in significant habitat changes. To assess the consequences of these changes for forest-associated bats, we measured the acoustic activity of three foraging guilds at turbine clearings, adjacent forest edges, and above nearby closed forests. Open-space and edge-space foraging bats were more active at turbine clearings and forest edges than above closed forests. Similarly, narrow-space foraging bats tended to be more active at turbine clearings than above closed forests. Open-space and edge-space foraging bats are known to be at high risk of colliding with wind turbines and their increased activity at forest gaps around turbines may increase casualties for these guilds. Operation of wind turbines in forests may therefore require longer shutdown periods to prevent legally protected bats from colliding with turbines. Although this may impair the energy yield of wind turbines in forests, such preventive conservation measures will ultimately contribute to a sustainable transition from fossil to renewable energy sources which factors in biodiversity conservation.