Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective

Chock, R.Y. - Clucas, B. - Peterson, E.K. - Blackwell, B.F. - Blumstein, D.T. - Church, K. - Fernández-Juricic, E. - Francescoli, Gabriel - Greggor, A.L. - Kemp, P. - Pinho, G.M. - Sanzenbacher, P.M. - Schulte, B.A. - Toni, P.

Resumen:

Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meetincreasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With inputfrom professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we conducted aresearch-prioritization process and identified key questions needed to betterunderstand impacts of solar facilities on wildlife. We focused on animalbehavior, which can be used to identify population responses before mortal-ity or other fitness consequences are documented. Behavioral studies canalso offer approaches to understand the mechanisms leading to negativeinteractions (e.g., collision, singeing, avoidance) and provide insight into mit-igating effects. Here, we review how behavioral responses to solar facilities, including perception, movement, habitat use, and interspecific interactionsare priority research areas. Addressing these themes will lead to a morecomprehensive understanding of the effects of solar power on wildlife andguide future mitigation


Detalles Bibliográficos
2021
Animal behavior
Concentrating solar power (CSP)
Conservation
Conservation behavior
Photovoltaic (PV) cells
Research prioritization process
Solar power
Utility-scale solarenergy (USSE)
Inglés
Universidad de la República
COLIBRI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/31661
Acceso abierto
Licencia Creative Commons Atribución (CC - By 4.0)
Resumen:
Sumario:Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meetincreasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With inputfrom professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we conducted aresearch-prioritization process and identified key questions needed to betterunderstand impacts of solar facilities on wildlife. We focused on animalbehavior, which can be used to identify population responses before mortal-ity or other fitness consequences are documented. Behavioral studies canalso offer approaches to understand the mechanisms leading to negativeinteractions (e.g., collision, singeing, avoidance) and provide insight into mit-igating effects. Here, we review how behavioral responses to solar facilities, including perception, movement, habitat use, and interspecific interactionsare priority research areas. Addressing these themes will lead to a morecomprehensive understanding of the effects of solar power on wildlife andguide future mitigation