Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Influence of Wind Turbines on Mammalian Occupancy Patterns
Author
Brian Tanis
Elmer Finck
Publication Year
2013
Body

Wind energy is among the most rapidly growing industries in the United States, with support for development coming from both state and federal governments. While the industry strives to be environmentally friendly the addition of infrastructure associated with wind farms alters ecosystems in novel ways. Numerous studies have shown impacts wind turbines have on bird and bat mortality; however, far less attention has been given to responses of terrestrial organisms. Mammalian mesocarnivores are model organisms to document the alteration of communities surrounding wind turbines as they respond to addition of turbines and human activity, addition and improvement of roadways, and increases in turbine-induced carrion. In October of 2011, a yearlong study was established surrounding the Central Plains Wind Facility in western Kansas to document patterns associated with the occupancy of terrestrial mammals within turbine and turbine-free habitats. We placed thirty four scent-baited trail cameras among turbine and control habitats, with a subset randomly placed along roadways. Detection histories during 28 day survey periods and habitat covariates were analyzed using PRESENCE 4.1. Preliminary analysis shows that coyote (Canis latrans) and swift fox (Vulpes velox) were the most abundant mesocarnivors detected with a trap success around three percent. Mesocarnivores were detected significantly more in control habitat (?20.05,1=11.79). Coyote occupancy was impacted negatively by roadways (p=.52) and turbines ( p=.91) while swift fox occupancy was associated positively to turbines(p=8.3). This might be due to the propensity of coyotes to avoid human activities and may alter the overall ecosystem function surrounding wind facilities.

Language
eng
Additional Information
Brian Tanis, Elmer Finck --- Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, USA