Modelling tool to protect Scotland’s seabirds from offshore wind farm developments
Glasgow University researchers say the method is the first of its kind
Scientists have developed a modelling tool to help inform the placement of offshore wind farms and protect seabirds.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow say it is the first of its kind to accurately predict colony foraging and breeding areas without relying on extensive satellite tracking data.
Current assessment methods used to help plan the construction of offshore wind farms can vary in precision and may lead to energy facilities being built in high bird density areas, or result in projects being rejected altogether due to an overestimation of seabird levels.
Lead author of the study, PhD student Holly Niven from the School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, said: “Accurate estimation of the impacts of offshore wind farms and other stressors on seabirds can help us make more informed decisions about offshore wind farm plans and protect the species living around our coasts.”
Method twice as accurate as existing assessment tools
Seabird species, including gannet and herring gull, leave their nest along the shoreline to forage the local area at sea – known as their home range.
This can vary in size depending on colony size and location.
Developments, such as wind farms, can act as environmental stressors and impact colony numbers and wellbeing.
Using GPS tracking data from 8 Northern gannet colonies, researchers at the University of Glasgow have shown their new tool is roughly twice as accurate as current seabird assessment methods.
Jana Jeglinski, Research Fellow and co-supervisor of the study, said: “Many seabird colonies are located at remote islands or cliffs that make GPS tracking studies extremely challenging or even impossible.
“Our method can predict biologically realistic home ranges and exposure for such inaccessible colonies, and it can also forecast future home ranges given the size of a colony – this is important since offshore windfarm construction will drastically increase in the near future.”
Scientists say the new modelling tool could also be used to accurately predict the foraging and breeding areas of other wildlife, including seals, bats and bees.
The study has been published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution and was funded by the UK Government Department for Energy Security & Net Zeros Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment OESEA program.
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