We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie-Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands.
- Authors
MCNEW, LANCE B.; HUNT, LYLA M.; GREGORY, ANDREW J.; WISELY, SAMANTHA M.; SANDERCOCK, BRETT K.
- Abstract
Wind energy is targeted to meet 20% of U.S. energy needs by 2030, but new sites for development of renewable energy may overlap with important habitats of declining populations of grassland birds. Greater Prairie-Chickens ( Tympanuchus cupido) are an obligate grassland bird species predicted to respond negatively to energy development. We used a modified before-after control-impact design to test for impacts of a wind energy development on the reproductive ecology of prairie-chickens in a 5-year study. We located 59 and 185 nests before and after development, respectively, of a 201 MW wind energy facility in Greater Prairie-Chicken nesting habitat and assessed nest site selection and nest survival relative to proximity to wind energy infrastructure and habitat conditions. Proximity to turbines did not negatively affect nest site selection (β = 0.03, 95% CI = −1.2-1.3) or nest survival (β = −0.3, 95% CI = −0.6-0.1). Instead, nest site selection and survival were strongly related to vegetative cover and other local conditions determined by management for cattle production. Integration of our project results with previous reports of behavioral avoidance of oil and gas facilities by other species of prairie grouse suggests new avenues for research to mitigate impacts of energy development. Efectos del Desarrollo de la Energía Eólica sobre la Ecología de Anidación de Gallinas de la Gran Pradera en Pastizales Fragmentados
- Subjects
WIND power &; the environment; RENEWABLE energy sources; HABITATS; BIRD conservation periodicals; ENERGY development &; the environment; CONSERVATION biology
- Publication
Conservation Biology, 2014, Vol 28, Issue 4, p1089
- ISSN
0888-8892
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/cobi.12258