Cryan Paul M, Gorresen Paulo M, Straw Bethany R, Thao Syhoune Simon, DeGeorge Elise
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
Hawaii Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2021 Dec 21;12(1):9. doi: 10.3390/ani12010009.
Wind energy producers need deployable devices for wind turbines that prevent bat fatalities. Based on the speculation that bats approach turbines after visually mistaking them for trees, we tested a potential light-based deterrence method. It is likely that the affected bats see ultraviolet (UV) light at low intensities. Here, we present the results of a multi-month experiment to cast dim, flickering UV light across wind turbine surfaces at night. Our objectives were to refine and test a practical system for dimly UV-illuminating turbines while testing whether the experimental UV treatment influenced the activity of bats, birds, and insects. We mounted upward-facing UV light arrays on turbines and used thermal-imaging cameras to quantify the presence and activity of night-flying animals. The results demonstrated that the turbines can be lit to the highest reaches of the blades with "invisible" UV light, and the animal responses to such experimental treatment can be concurrently monitored. The UV treatment did not significantly change nighttime bat, insect, or bird activity at the wind turbine. Our findings show how observing flying animals with thermal cameras at night can help test emerging technologies intended to variably affect their behaviors around wind turbines.
风能生产商需要为风力涡轮机配备可部署的装置,以防止蝙蝠死亡。基于蝙蝠在视觉上误将涡轮机当作树木而靠近它们的推测,我们测试了一种潜在的基于光的威慑方法。受影响的蝙蝠很可能能在低强度下看到紫外线(UV)光。在此,我们展示了一项为期数月的实验结果,即在夜间让昏暗闪烁的紫外线照射风力涡轮机表面。我们的目标是完善并测试一种用于对涡轮机进行微弱紫外线照明的实用系统,同时测试实验性紫外线处理是否会影响蝙蝠、鸟类和昆虫的活动。我们在涡轮机上安装了向上的紫外线灯阵列,并使用热成像相机来量化夜间飞行动物的存在和活动情况。结果表明,涡轮机叶片的最高处可用“不可见”的紫外线照亮,并且可以同时监测动物对这种实验处理的反应。紫外线处理并未显著改变风力涡轮机处夜间蝙蝠、昆虫或鸟类的活动。我们的研究结果表明,夜间用热成像相机观察飞行中的动物有助于测试旨在以不同方式影响它们在风力涡轮机周围行为的新兴技术。