Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P009387/1
Impacts of offshore wind farms on populations and demography of gannets: reducing uncertainty in risk assessments
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor KC Hamer, University of Leeds, Sch of Biology
- Grant held at:
- University of Leeds, Sch of Biology
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Science Topics:
- Foraging behaviour
- Behavioural Ecology
- Anthropogenic pressures
- Conservation Ecology
- Population modelling
- Population Ecology
- Offshore Devices
- Energy - Marine & Hydropower
- Abstract:
- There is an urgent need to understand how offshore wind farms could affect marine biodiversity. Here, the student will combine advanced demographic analysis and state-of-the-art wildlife tracking to provide critical insight into how mortality through collisions with offshore turbines could affect long-term population viability of a high-profile marine predator of high conservation status in the UK, developing a much-needed framework to assist with consenting decisions for marine renewable energy developments. A large increase in offshore wind turbine capacity is anticipated in the next decade, raising concerns about possible adverse impacts on birds as a result of mortality caused by collisions with turbine blades. Gannets have been identified as a species of particular concern but there is great uncertainty over the likely consequences of additional mortality for gannet population sizes. The student will use a unique combination of demographic modelling, field tracking data and digital aerial survey data to address four aims: 1. Modelling gannet population dynamics. 2. Assessing potential effects of wind farms on stage-specific mortality. 3. Predicting impacts of heightened mortality on population dynamics and viability. 4. Informing advice on policy. The project is a close collaboration between the University of Leeds and two industrial project partners: (i) Vattenfall Wind Power, one of Europe's largest producers of electricity and the second largest within offshore wind, and; (ii) MacArthur Green, an Environmental Consultancy with a specialisation in environmental impact assessment in relation to renewable energy development. Results of the project will greatly reduce the current large uncertainty in environmental impact assessments for offshore wind farms, providing direct benefits to developers, licensing authorities and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies charged with providing informed advice to Government. Greater certainty in impact assessments will also be of benefit to NGOs such as RSPB and a range of other stakeholders including the general public. Outputs from the project will include: (a) specific advice on how different levels of imposed stage-specific mortality would affect gannet population dynamics and colony sizes, and; (a) broadly applicable tools that could be parameterized for other species and in other contexts to reduce the uncertainty associated with planning consent decisions.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P009387/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £88,292
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £17,296 | £11,000 | £59,998 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.