Project aim:
The research project “NatForWINSENT-II - Nature conservation research in the onshore wind energy test field WINSENT” is divided into two phases.
Phase 1 relates to the time before the wind turbines are erected (BEFORE), while in phase 2, experimental studies will be carried out on wind turbines in operation (AFTER) and ultimately a before-and-after comparison will be made.
This final report presents the results of the investigations into the occurrence and behavior of birds and bats as well as insect abundance from Phase 1.
In this project, OekoFor investigated insect abundance using the insect photo trap (ecoPi:Bug) developed in-house. It is part of the ecoPi recording technology ↗
Results - short & sweet
With regard to insect abundance, it was shown that the number of insect detections and the body size of detected insects decreased with increasing observation height on the measuring masts. The species composition also changed depending on the survey height, with mainly Lepidoptera being detected in the vicinity and up to a height of 10 m, but exclusively Hymenoptera as the survey height increased. These results are consistent with comparable studies carried out on wind turbines.
Statistical modeling showed that the probability of capturing an insect increased significantly with increasing temperature and reduced wind speed. This correlation has already been proven in other studies and confirms the general methodological suitability of our insect photo trap.
It was also shown that the probability of detecting a bat increased significantly when the probability of detecting an insect also increased. This correlation is obvious, but has only been investigated a little and - to our knowledge - has not yet been directly proven.
Our project partners, who have studied the behavior of bats and birds in the test field in detail, have also come up with exciting results, particularly with regard to the methodological investigation.
You can read this and other in-depth information in the full script (only available in German). It is available for free download in the BfN script collection ↗
You can find more information on the current project status in our portfolio article portfolio article ↗
Author team & sponsors
The report was compiled together with employees from the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), the Swiss Ornithological Institute, the Freiburger Institute for Applied Animal Ecology (FrInaT), the Institute for Measurement and Sensor Technology (UMIT) and Bio-Scouting. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BFN) was responsible for the technical supervision.
The project was funded by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) (FKZ: 3518 86 0100).
