Tag: renewable energy

Human-wildlife interactions, Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Hotspots in the Grid: Avian sensitivity and vulnerability to collision risk from energy infrastructure interactions In Europe and North Africa

A new paper, led by Jethro Gauld from the University of East Anglia and colleagues from across Europe, demonstrates how GPS tracking data can be a powerful tool for identifying areas where birds are most sensitive to new renewable energy development due to collision risks. The transition to zero carbon energy is essential to avoid runaway climate change. As nations strive to achieve their Net … Continue reading Hotspots in the Grid: Avian sensitivity and vulnerability to collision risk from energy infrastructure interactions In Europe and North Africa

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Agriculture, Freshwater, Perspectives, Research summaries

The importance of indirect effects of climate change adaptations on alpine and pre-alpine freshwater systems

Feature photo edited from © Martin Laurenceau In their latest Perspective, Morgane Brosse and colleagues delve into the impact of human efforts to reduce or mitigate climate change, its effects on alpine freshwater environments and the role of specific management and policy decisions in determining the nature of these impacts. In an effort to address the threat of global change, much pressure is put on … Continue reading The importance of indirect effects of climate change adaptations on alpine and pre-alpine freshwater systems

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Editor's Choice, Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries

Editor’s Choice 58:3 Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

Journal of Applied Ecology’s March Editor’s Choice tests the efficacy of an automated curtailment system in reducing counts of fatalities of eagles. Associate Editor, Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi, introduces the selected article by Chris J W McClure, which shows that this method substantially reduced eagle fatalities, offering potential opportunities to lessen the conflict between wind energy and raptor conservation. We need greener renewable energy to fight climate … Continue reading Editor’s Choice 58:3 Eagle fatalities are reduced by automated curtailment of wind turbines

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Human-wildlife interactions, Monitoring and methods, Research summaries

Predictive modeling of raptor movement can minimise the impact of wind energy developments

Energy generation is shifting towards renewable sources, but how do these developments impact our environment? In their latest research, Megan Murgatroyd and colleagues develop a predictive model to guide where best to locate wind turbines to minimize collision risk for a large soaring raptor. The sight of a wind farm is no longer strange to us. For some they might be seen as gentle giants, … Continue reading Predictive modeling of raptor movement can minimise the impact of wind energy developments

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Coastal and marine, Editor's Choice, Human-wildlife interactions

Editor’s Choice: 56:9 – Understanding the sensitivity of seabird populations to development pressure

As renewable energy becomes more prevalent in coastal environments, research by Julie Miller and colleagues provides important insights into the effects of anthropogenic influences on bird populations; both the risks and how these can be mitigated. Associate Editor Des Thompson and Scottish Natural Heritage ornithologist Andy Douse discuss issue 56:9‘s Editor’s Choice article. Of the globe’s birds, seabird populations are arguably among the most sensitive … Continue reading Editor’s Choice: 56:9 – Understanding the sensitivity of seabird populations to development pressure

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Research summaries

Wind farms affect small birds too

Julia Gómez-Catasús explains the need for a 4.5km threshold between wind farms and small-sized birds, based on the recently published article, Wind farms affect the occurrence, abundance and population trends of small passerine birds: The case of the Dupont’s lark. Wind energy has experienced significant developments in recent decades, with China, United States, Germany, India and Spain being the main wind energy producers in the world. … Continue reading Wind farms affect small birds too

Journal of Applied Ecology4 Comments
Research summaries

Seals avoid tidal turbine sounds

What do tidal turbines mean for our marine mammals? Gordon Hastie comments on recent article, Harbour seals avoid tidal turbine noise: Implications for collision risk, published in Journal of Applied Ecology. Does reliable tidal energy come at an environmental cost? Renewable energy is rapidly gaining momentum in an effort to cut carbon emissions and reduce the effects of climate change.  Although wind and solar are … Continue reading Seals avoid tidal turbine sounds

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries

Density-dependence and marine bird populations: Are wind farm assessments precautionary?

In this post, Catharine Horswill discusses her paper ‘Density-dependence and marine bird populations: Are wind farm assessments precautionary?‘ “Just one thing would be enough to halt climate change, if clean energy became cheaper than coal, gas or oil, fossil fuel would simply stay in the ground”. Sir David Attenborough made this statement in support of the Global Apollo Program, an international initiative to increase the amount … Continue reading Density-dependence and marine bird populations: Are wind farm assessments precautionary?

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Human-wildlife interactions, Research summaries, Themed collections

Spotlight: How do renewable energy installations affect wildlife?

In the first post of its kind for The Applied Ecologist’s blog, Dr Lucy Wright, RSPB Principal Conservation Scientist, discusses five articles published in the latest issue of Journal of Applied Ecology, which have been grouped into a special profile on wildlife and renewable energy. All five papers are currently free to read online. Renewable energy is widely accepted to be a vital part of … Continue reading Spotlight: How do renewable energy installations affect wildlife?

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries

Seals find a quiet place to phone home

In this post Debbie Russell discusses her paper ‘Avoidance of windfarms by harbour seals is limited to pile driving activities‘ published today in Journal of Applied Ecology. Marine renewables in the fight against climate change To fight climate change we have to cut our carbon emissions. One of the main sources of carbon emissions results from burning coal to make electricity. Thus a key weapon … Continue reading Seals find a quiet place to phone home

Journal of Applied Ecology2 Comments