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Mortality of bats at wind turbines links to nocturnal insect migration?

Rydell, Jens LU ; Bach, Lothar ; Dubourg-Savage, Marie-Jo ; Green, Martin LU ; Rodrigues, Luisa and Hedenström, Anders LU (2010) In European Journal of Wildlife Research 56(6). p.823-827
Abstract
This note is based on a literature search and a recent review of bat mortality data from wind farms in Europe (published elsewhere). We suggest that mortality of bats at wind turbines may be linked to high-altitude feeding on migrating insects that accumulate at the turbine towers. Modern wind turbines seem to reach high enough into the airspace to interfere with the migratory movements of insects. The hypothesis is consistent with recent observations of bats at wind turbines. It is supported by the observation that mortality of bats at wind turbines is highly seasonal (August-September) and typically peaks during nights with weather conditions known to trigger large-scale migratory movements of insects (and songbirds). We also discuss... (More)
This note is based on a literature search and a recent review of bat mortality data from wind farms in Europe (published elsewhere). We suggest that mortality of bats at wind turbines may be linked to high-altitude feeding on migrating insects that accumulate at the turbine towers. Modern wind turbines seem to reach high enough into the airspace to interfere with the migratory movements of insects. The hypothesis is consistent with recent observations of bats at wind turbines. It is supported by the observation that mortality of bats at wind turbines is highly seasonal (August-September) and typically peaks during nights with weather conditions known to trigger large-scale migratory movements of insects (and songbirds). We also discuss other current hypotheses concerning the mortality of bats at wind turbines. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Moths, Insect behaviour, Aeroecology, Bat conservation, Wind energy
in
European Journal of Wildlife Research
volume
56
issue
6
pages
823 - 827
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000284426300001
  • scopus:78650227826
ISSN
1612-4642
DOI
10.1007/s10344-010-0444-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9409af52-2e69-4b14-8ed3-6dacca009771 (old id 1752484)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:00:02
date last changed
2022-02-19 21:53:29
@article{9409af52-2e69-4b14-8ed3-6dacca009771,
  abstract     = {{This note is based on a literature search and a recent review of bat mortality data from wind farms in Europe (published elsewhere). We suggest that mortality of bats at wind turbines may be linked to high-altitude feeding on migrating insects that accumulate at the turbine towers. Modern wind turbines seem to reach high enough into the airspace to interfere with the migratory movements of insects. The hypothesis is consistent with recent observations of bats at wind turbines. It is supported by the observation that mortality of bats at wind turbines is highly seasonal (August-September) and typically peaks during nights with weather conditions known to trigger large-scale migratory movements of insects (and songbirds). We also discuss other current hypotheses concerning the mortality of bats at wind turbines.}},
  author       = {{Rydell, Jens and Bach, Lothar and Dubourg-Savage, Marie-Jo and Green, Martin and Rodrigues, Luisa and Hedenström, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1612-4642}},
  keywords     = {{Moths; Insect behaviour; Aeroecology; Bat conservation; Wind energy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{823--827}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Wildlife Research}},
  title        = {{Mortality of bats at wind turbines links to nocturnal insect migration?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-010-0444-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10344-010-0444-3}},
  volume       = {{56}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}