Pollock, Christopher J, Lane, Jude V, Buckingham, Lila 
ORCID: 0000-0002-9846-2734, Garthe, Stefan, Jeavons, Ruth, Furness, Robert W and Hamer, Keith C
(2021)
Risks to different populations and age classes of gannets from impacts of offshore wind farms in the southern North Sea.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 171.
105457-.
Abstract
The southern North Sea holds the world's highest concentration of offshore wind farms (OWFs). Northern gannets (Morus bassanus), a species considered at high risk from OWF impacts, show a strong seasonal peak there in November, but it is unclear which populations and age classes are most at risk of collision with wind turbines. We tagged adult and juvenile gannets at the world's largest colony (Bass Rock) and reviewed two sources of survey data for different age classes to study their movements through southern North Sea waters. Tracked birds showed peak numbers in the southern North Sea in mid-October, with much smaller numbers there during November. Adults were distributed throughout the area, including waters close to OWFs, whereas juveniles were confined to the coast. Survey data indicated high proportions of immature gannets in southern North Sea waters, suggesting higher collision risk than for adults. Gannets present in November may be predominantly from colonies further north than Bass Rock.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Gannet, Offshore wind farm, Geolocator, Immature, Juvenile, Collision risk, Seabirds, Marine ecology, Population characteristics |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2022 14:03 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 21:00 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105457 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105457 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3156204 |
Dimensions
Dimensions
