Behavior of bats at wind turbines

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dc.citation.issue42
dc.citation.volume111
dc.contributor.authorCryan PM
dc.contributor.authorGorresen PM
dc.contributor.authorHein CD
dc.contributor.authorSchirmacher M
dc.contributor.authorDiehl R
dc.contributor.authorHuso M
dc.contributor.authorHayman DTS
dc.contributor.authorFricker P
dc.contributor.authorBonaccorso F
dc.contributor.authorJohnston D
dc.contributor.authorHeist K
dc.contributor.authorDalton D
dc.date.available2014-10-21
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractWind turbines are causing unprecedented numbers of bat fatalities. Many fatalities involve tree-roosting bats, but reasons for this higher susceptibility remain unknown. To better understand behaviors associated with risk, we monitored bats at three experimentally manipulated wind turbines in Indiana, United States, from July 29 to October 1, 2012, using thermal cameras and other methods. We observed bats on 993 occasions and saw many behaviors, including close approaches, flight loops and dives, hovering, and chases. Most bats altered course toward turbines during observation. Based on these new observations, we tested the hypotheses that wind speed and blade rotation speed influenced the way that bats interacted with turbines. We found that bats were detected more frequently at lower wind speeds and typically approached turbines on the leeward (downwind) side. The proportion of leeward approaches increased with wind speed when blades were prevented from turning, yet decreased when blades could turn. Bats were observed more frequently at turbines on moonlit nights. Taken together, these observations suggest that bats may orient toward turbines by sensing air currents and using vision, and that air turbulence caused by fast-moving blades creates conditions that are less attractive to bats passing in close proximity. Tree bats may respond to streams of air flowing downwind from trees at night while searching for roosts, conspecifics, and nocturnal insect prey that could accumulate in such flows. Fatalities of tree bats at turbines may be the consequence of behaviors that evolved to provide selective advantages when elicited by tall trees, but are now maladaptive when elicited by wind turbines.ines.
dc.description.publication-statusPublished
dc.format.extent15126 - 15131
dc.identifierhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000343302600050&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=c5bb3b2499afac691c2e3c1a83ef6fef
dc.identifier.citationPROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 2014, 111 (42), pp. 15126 - 15131
dc.identifier.doi10.1073/pnas.1406672111
dc.identifier.elements-id220122
dc.identifier.harvestedMassey_Dark
dc.identifier.issn0027-8424
dc.publisherNational Academy of Sciences
dc.relation.isPartOfPROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
dc.subjectenergy development
dc.subjectsensory perception
dc.subjectvideo surveillance
dc.subjectwildlife
dc.subjectwind energy
dc.titleBehavior of bats at wind turbines
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.notesNot known
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/School of Veterinary Science
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