Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective
Abstract Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meet increasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With input from professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we co...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.319 |
| _version_ | 1797659160089722880 |
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| author | Rachel Y. Chock Barbara Clucas Elizabeth K. Peterson Bradley F. Blackwell Daniel T. Blumstein Kathleen Church Esteban Fernández‐Juricic Gabriel Francescoli Alison L. Greggor Paul Kemp Gabriela M. Pinho Peter M. Sanzenbacher Bruce A. Schulte Pauline Toni |
| author_facet | Rachel Y. Chock Barbara Clucas Elizabeth K. Peterson Bradley F. Blackwell Daniel T. Blumstein Kathleen Church Esteban Fernández‐Juricic Gabriel Francescoli Alison L. Greggor Paul Kemp Gabriela M. Pinho Peter M. Sanzenbacher Bruce A. Schulte Pauline Toni |
| author_sort | Rachel Y. Chock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meet increasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With input from professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we conducted a research‐prioritization process and identified key questions needed to better understand impacts of solar facilities on wildlife. We focused on animal behavior, which can be used to identify population responses before mortality or other fitness consequences are documented. Behavioral studies can also offer approaches to understand the mechanisms leading to negative interactions (e.g., collision, singeing, avoidance) and provide insight into mitigating effects. Here, we review how behavioral responses to solar facilities, including perception, movement, habitat use, and interspecific interactions are priority research areas. Addressing these themes will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of solar power on wildlife and guide future mitigation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:10:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-184699c829e643d88a637e2141cf6c56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:10:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-184699c829e643d88a637e2141cf6c562023-10-16T14:51:41ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542021-02-0132n/an/a10.1111/csp2.319Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspectiveRachel Y. Chock0Barbara Clucas1Elizabeth K. Peterson2Bradley F. Blackwell3Daniel T. Blumstein4Kathleen Church5Esteban Fernández‐Juricic6Gabriel Francescoli7Alison L. Greggor8Paul Kemp9Gabriela M. Pinho10Peter M. Sanzenbacher11Bruce A. Schulte12Pauline Toni13Recovery Ecology San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Escondido California USADepartment of Wildlife Humboldt State University Arcata California USACommunities to Build Active STEM Engagement Colorado State University‐Pueblo Pueblo Colorado USAU.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center Sandusky Ohio USADepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USAGreat Lakes Institute for Environmental Research University of Windsor Windsor Ontario CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USASección Etología, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República Montevideo UruguayRecovery Ecology San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research Escondido California USAInternational Centre for Ecohydraulics Research, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Department of Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering University of Southampton Southampton UKDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USAU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Palm Springs California USADepartment of Biology Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Kentucky USADepartment of Biology Université de Sherbrooke Québec CanadaAbstract Solar power is a renewable energy source with great potential to help meet increasing global energy demands and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. However, research is scarce on how solar facilities affect wildlife. With input from professionals in ecology, conservation, and energy, we conducted a research‐prioritization process and identified key questions needed to better understand impacts of solar facilities on wildlife. We focused on animal behavior, which can be used to identify population responses before mortality or other fitness consequences are documented. Behavioral studies can also offer approaches to understand the mechanisms leading to negative interactions (e.g., collision, singeing, avoidance) and provide insight into mitigating effects. Here, we review how behavioral responses to solar facilities, including perception, movement, habitat use, and interspecific interactions are priority research areas. Addressing these themes will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of solar power on wildlife and guide future mitigation.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.319animal behaviorconcentrating solar power (CSP)conservationconservation behaviorphotovoltaic (PV) cellsresearch prioritization process |
| spellingShingle | Rachel Y. Chock Barbara Clucas Elizabeth K. Peterson Bradley F. Blackwell Daniel T. Blumstein Kathleen Church Esteban Fernández‐Juricic Gabriel Francescoli Alison L. Greggor Paul Kemp Gabriela M. Pinho Peter M. Sanzenbacher Bruce A. Schulte Pauline Toni Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective Conservation Science and Practice animal behavior concentrating solar power (CSP) conservation conservation behavior photovoltaic (PV) cells research prioritization process |
| title | Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| title_full | Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| title_short | Evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| title_sort | evaluating potential effects of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective |
| topic | animal behavior concentrating solar power (CSP) conservation conservation behavior photovoltaic (PV) cells research prioritization process |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.319 |
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