Viability of carcass removal as an option for offsetting the incidental take of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) at wind energy facilities

Author:

Lonsdorf Eric V.ORCID,Gerber James S.ORCID,Ray DeepakORCID,Slater Steven J.ORCID,Allison Taber D.

Abstract

ABSTRACTAs wind energy expands to achieve the United States’ net zero emission goals, compensatory mitigation will be required to offset negative impacts to birds and bats. The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is particularly susceptible to collision with wind turbines but only one option for offsetting mortalities has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service despite many sources of anthropogenic-caused mortality. Here, we update a previously developed vehicle-collision model with empirical data and integrate a resource equivalency analysis so that removal of road-killed game animals can be used as mitigation to offset incidental mortality. We parameterized the golden eagle behavior parameters using camera-traps placed at roadside carcasses. We quantified the effects of different carcass-removal schemes based on vehicle and carcass characteristics observed for the state of Wyoming. Our model results indicate that while eagles saved per carcass removed depends on removal interval and vehicle traffic volume, carcass removal is a viable mitigation strategy; up to seven eagles could be saved per year in some counties. While some uncertainty remains about the precise credit received from each carcass removed, delaying the inclusion of additional mitigation methods prevents opportunities for conservation action. An adaptive management program could be a way forward where management and monitoring are combined to further improve estimates of mitigation credit.

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Reference22 articles.

1. Impacts to wildlife of wind energy siting and operation in the United States;Issues in Ecology,2019

2. A Review of Options for Mitigating Take of Golden Eagles at Wind Energy Facilities;Journal of Raptor Research,2017

3. Context-dependent effects on spatial variation in deer-vehicle collisions;Ecosphere,2015

4. Cochrane, J. F. , T. D. Allison , and E. V. Lonsdorf . 2020. Hedging against Uncertainty When Granting Permits for Mitigation. Pages 167–175 Structured decision making: case studies in natural resource management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

5. Socioeconomic Benefits of Large Carnivore Recolonization Through Reduced Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions;Conservation Letters,2017

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3