Collision risk and micro-avoidance rates of birds with wind turbines in Flanders

Capsule Local factors can lead to strong variation in mortality rate and collision risk that obscures possible effects of turbine size in wind farms.

Aims The impact of bird collisions was studied at eight land-based wind farm sites with a total of 66 small to large turbines in order to assess the mortality rate and collision risk.

Methods Searches for collision fatalities were performed under all turbines with a minimum search interval of 14 days. Mortality rate was calculated with corrections for available search area, scavenging and search efficiency. Flight movements of birds crossing five of the wind farm sites were recorded during a minimum of four days per site. Actual collision risk was then calculated as the number of collision fatalities relative to the average surveyed flight intensity.

Results Mortality rate was 21 birds per turbine per year on average. Most fatalities were local common species (e.g. gulls) but rarer species were also found (e.g. terns, raptors and waders). Collision risk of gulls was 0.05% and 0.08% on average for birds, respectively, flying at turbine and rotor height through the wind farms (0.09% and 0.14% maximum). Large gulls had a significant higher collision risk than small gulls at rotor height. Mortality rate and collision risk were not significantly related to turbine size. The results were integrated in a widely used collision risk model to obtain information of micro-avoidance, i.e. the proportion of birds that fly through the wind farm but avoid passing through the rotor swept area of the turbines. For gulls, this micro-avoidance was 96.1% and 96.3% on average for birds, respectively, flying at turbine and rotor height through the wind farms.

Conclusion The results indicate that local factors can lead to strong variation in mortality rate and collision risk that obscures possible effects of turbine size in wind farms. However, large turbines have more installed capacity (MW), so repowering wind farms with larger but fewer wind turbines, could reduce total mortality at certain locations.     

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus population trends in relation to wind farms

Capsule: The data presented here demonstrate a considerable spatial overlap between wind farms and the breeding distribution of Hen Harriers in Ireland, but evidence for a negative impact of wind farms on their population is weak.

Aims: To assess the extent of the overlap between wind farms and breeding Hen Harriers and to investigate their potential impact on Hen Harrier population trends.

Methods: Data on Hen Harrier breeding distribution in 10?km?×?10?km survey squares from national surveys were used in conjunction with information on the location of wind farms to examine whether, and to what extent, changes in Hen Harrier distribution and abundance between 2000 and 2010 were related to wind energy development.

Results: Of the 69 survey squares holding Hen Harriers during the 2010 breeding season, 28% also overlapped with one or more wind farms. Data from 36 of the squares with breeding Hen Harriers during the 2000 survey revealed a marginally non-significant negative relationship between wind farm presence and change in the number of breeding pairs between 2000 and 2010.

Conclusions: A considerable overlap exists between Hen Harrier breeding distribution and the location of wind farms in Ireland, particularly in areas between 200 and 400?m above sea level. The presence of wind farms is negatively related to Hen Harrier population trends in squares surveyed in 2000 and 2010, but this relationship is not statistically significant, and may not be causal. This is the first study to assess the influence of wind energy development on Hen Harriers at such a large geographic and population scale.     

The New Zealand falcon and wind farms: a risk assessment framework

Abstract

Internationally, birds of prey are often reported as being relatively prone to collision with wind turbines in comparison to other groups of birds. However, as yet it is unclear to what extent New Zealand's only endemic bird of prey, the New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), is at risk. In this paper we summarise the potential for wind farms to impact New Zealand falcon, evaluate the efficacy of a range of risk assessment and post-consent monitoring practices, and present options for mitigating and/or offsetting any residual effects. We conclude that the lack of knowledge on the effects of wind farms on New Zealand falcon is the result of inconsistency in the assessment methods thus far employed and the absence of a coordinated approach to monitoring methods and the dissemination of results. To remedy this we present a risk assessment framework that, if adopted, will provide the information necessary to ensure alternative energy targets can be met without compromising the conservation of this threatened species.     

Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area,California

Abstract The 165-km² Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) in west-central California includes 5,400 wind turbines, each rated to generate between 40 kW and 400 kW of electric power, or 580 MW total. Many birds residing or passing through the area are killed by collisions with these wind turbines. We searched for bird carcasses within 50 m of 4,074 wind turbines for periods ranging from 6 months to 4.5 years. Using mortality estimates adjusted for searcher detection and scavenger removal rates, we estimated the annual wind turbine–caused bird fatalities to number 67 (80% CI = 25–109) golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), 188 (80% CI = 116–259) red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), 348 (80% CI = −49 to 749) American kestrels (Falco sparverius), 440 (80% CI = −133 to 1,013) burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), 1,127 (80% CI = −23 to 2,277) raptors, and 2,710 (80% CI = −6,100 to 11,520) birds. Adjusted mortality estimates were most sensitive to scavenger removal rate, which relates to the amount of time between fatality searches. New on-site studies of scavenger removal rates might warrant revising mortality estimates for some small-bodied bird species, although we cannot predict how the mortality estimates would change. Given the magnitude of our mortality estimates, regulatory agencies and the public should decide whether to enforce laws intended to protect species killed by APWRA wind turbines, and given the imprecision of our estimates, directed research is needed of sources of error and bias for use in studies of bird collisions wherever wind farms are developed. Precision of mortality estimates could be improved by deploying technology to remotely detect collisions and by making wind turbine power output data available to researchers so that the number of fatalities can be related directly to the actual power output of the wind turbine since the last fatality search.     

Using Wind Tunnels to Predict Bird Mortality in Wind Farms: The Case of Griffon Vultures

Background

Wind farms have shown a spectacular growth during the last 15 years. Avian mortality through collision with moving rotor blades is well-known as one of the main adverse impacts of wind farms. In Spain, the griffon vulture incurs the highest mortality rates in wind farms.

Methodology/Principal Findings

As far as we know, this study is the first attempt to predict flight trajectories of birds in order to foresee potentially dangerous areas for wind farm development. We analyse topography and wind flows in relation to flight paths of griffon vultures, using a scaled model of the wind farm area in an aerodynamic wind tunnel, and test the difference between the observed flight paths of griffon vultures and the predominant wind flows. Different wind currents for each wind direction in the aerodynamic model were observed. Simulations of wind flows in a wind tunnel were compared with observed flight paths of griffon vultures. No statistical differences were detected between the observed flight trajectories of griffon vultures and the wind passages observed in our wind tunnel model. A significant correlation was found between dead vultures predicted proportion of vultures crossing those cells according to the aerodynamic model.

Conclusions

Griffon vulture flight routes matched the predominant wind flows in the area (i.e. they followed the routes where less flight effort was needed). We suggest using these kinds of simulations to predict flight paths over complex terrains can inform the location of wind turbines and thereby reduce soaring bird mortality.     

An ecological risk assessment for the impacts of offshore wind farms on birds in Australia

An ecological risk assessment, based on life-history and behavioural attributes of 273 bird taxa, was used to identify which of those taxa are at high risk from negative interactions with offshore wind farms in Australia. The marine area of Australia was divided by state/territory boundaries perpendicular to the coast into eight regions, with Western Australia further divided into north and south, and a Bass Strait region bounded by the Victoria coast and the north coast of Tasmania. These regions were subdivided into coastal, inshore and offshore sub-regions and a risk summary for all bird taxa occurring in each of these sub-regions produced. In coastal and inshore sub-regions of Bass Strait, South Australia and Tasmania, the species with the highest risk scores were Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster, Furneaux White-fronted Tern Sterna striata incerta, Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor, Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta, Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis and Anadyr Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica anadyrensis. In offshore sub-regions in southern Australia, the highest risk species were all albatrosses, comprising Northern Royal Diomedea sanfordi, Eastern Antipodean D. antipodensis antipodensis, Gibson's D. antipodensis gibsoni, Wandering D. exulans, Amsterdam D. amsterdamensis and Grey-headed Albatross T. chrysostoma. Compared to onshore installations, there are logistical challenges to quantifying the potential and realized impacts of offshore wind farms that require different approaches to data collection and analyses. The extensive development of offshore wind farms in the Northern Hemisphere provides examples of best and emerging approaches to quantify and mitigate negative impacts of offshore wind farms that can be applied in an Australian context. Despite differences in the species involved, the same approaches to identifying high-risk species and to the monitoring and mitigation of negative impacts should be applied in a coordinated, regional-scale approach to the development of offshore wind farms in Australia.     

First outbreak reported caused by Erysipelothrix species strain 2 in turkeys from poultry-producing farms in Brazil

Purpose

The aims of this study were to report the first isolation of Erysipelothrix sp. strain 2 (ES2) associated with clinical signs of diseases as well as mortality in turkeys and identify the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates.

Methods

We evaluated 118 farms for bacteriological analysis and TaqMan real-time PCR to identify the microorganism in different organs. After this, we made the epidemiological analysis between the positive flocks and the mortality mean. We performed the sequencing of the 16S rRNA region and the assessment of antimicrobial resistance.

Results

We have identified 18 (15.25%) as ES2-positive flocks, without any other species from the same genus being found. After analysing the organ samples, we found liver as the organ of choice for the isolation of the ES2. The sequencing of 16S rRNA region of ES2 identified high homology with E. tonsillarum and E. rhusiopathiae, suggesting that it is not the best-suited target to identify this species. We have found a positive association between isolation of the bacteria in organs and flocks’ mortality. Positive flocks had a mortality mean rate of 6.87%, which is significantly greater than 3.76% in negative flocks. Ill turkeys had gross lesions of generalized septicaemia. The bacterial isolates showed high resistance to fosfomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and sensibility to norfloxacin, amoxicillin and lincomycin/spectinomycin.

Conclusion

This is the first study in the world that addressed ES2 as the causative agent of erysipelas in turkey.

     

基于高通量测序技术分析四川两个奶牛场乳汁的菌群差异

【目的】本试验测定了两个奶牛场健康乳汁和乳房炎乳汁中微生物菌群的变化,以揭示不同奶牛场之乳汁菌群的异同,评估其对乳汁代谢的影响是否相同。【方法】采用16S rRNA高通量测序技术,分别测定两个奶牛场6头健康奶牛和6头乳房炎奶牛乳汁中微生物16S rRNA V4区序列,并对菌群群落结构和多样性进行比较,分析场内及场间的乳汁菌群差异。【结果】四组乳汁样本共获得4013234条原始序列,经过滤后获得2887024条优化序列。Alpha多样性Chao指数、Ace指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数差异均不显著(P0.05);Beta多样性四组样本均分别聚类;在场1和场2中,引起奶牛乳房炎的优势菌属分别是克雷伯氏菌属和埃希氏菌属;在2个奶牛场的健康乳汁中,场2的埃希氏菌属、葡萄球菌属的丰度显著高于场1;在2个奶牛场的乳房炎乳汁中,场2的埃希氏菌属、乳球菌属的丰度显著高于场1;2个奶牛场健康乳汁中的嗜冷菌总丰度分别为31.87%和38.72%;关联分析及功能预测分析表明,2个奶牛场健康乳汁与乳房炎乳汁优势物种之间的关系差异较大;场1无论是Level 1还是Level 2水平,均发现显著性差异的代谢通路,而场2均未发现显著性差异的代谢通路。【结论】本试验研究了两个奶牛场健康乳汁和乳房炎乳汁微生物菌群之间的异同,为两个奶牛场在乳房炎的预防工作以及原料奶在冷链运输过程中质量控制提供理论依据。     

Collision risk of Montagu’s Harriers Circus pygargus with wind turbines derived from high-resolution GPS tracking

Flight behaviour characteristics such as flight altitude and avoidance behaviour determine the species-specific collision risk of birds with wind turbines. However, traditional observational methods exhibit limited positional accuracy. High-resolution GPS telemetry represents a promising method to overcome this drawback. In this study, we used three-dimensional GPS tracking data including high-accuracy tracks recorded at 3-s intervals to investigate the collision risk of breeding male Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus in the Dutch–German border region. Avoidance of wind turbines was quantified by a novel approach comparing observed flights to a null model of random flight behaviour. On average, Montagu's Harriers spent as much as 8.2 h per day in flight. Most flights were at low altitude, with only 7.1% within the average rotor height range (RHR; 45–125 m). Montagu's Harriers showed significant avoidance behaviour, approaching turbines less often than expected, particularly when flying within the RHR (avoidance rate of 93.5%). For the present state, with wind farms situated on the fringes of the regional nesting range, collision risk models based on our new insights on flight behaviour indicated 0.6–2.0 yearly collisions of adult males (as compared with a population size of c. 40 pairs). However, the erection of a new wind farm inside the core breeding area could markedly increase mortality (up to 9.7 yearly collisions). If repowering of the wind farms was carried out using low-reaching modern turbines (RHR 36–150 m), mortality would more than double, whereas it would stay approximately constant if higher turbines (RHR 86–200 m) were used. Our study demonstrates the great potential of high-resolution GPS tracking for collision risk assessments. The resulting information on collision-related flight behaviour allows for performing detailed scenario analyses on wind farm siting and turbine design, in contrast to current environmental assessment practices. With regard to Montagu's Harriers, we conclude that although the deployment of higher wind turbines represents an opportunity to reduce collision risk for this species, precluding wind energy developments in core breeding areas remains the most important mitigation measure.     

Post-construction avian mortality monitoring at Project West Wind

Abstract

Post-construction avifauna investigations were undertaken at Project West Wind, Meridian Energy Limited's 62-turbine wind farm on the Wellington south coast. These investigations were required in accordance with the resource consent conditions to quantify the level of avian mortalities occurring at the wind farm, particularly in regard to New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), kākā (Nestor meridionalis) and kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). This is the first comprehensive study at a New Zealand operating wind farm. The methods included three field components necessary to calculate annual estimates of mortalities across the wind farm site: routine turbine searches; carcass detection trials; and carcass removal trials. Results from years 1 and 2 of a three-year programme are presented. To date, mortalities have been recorded for 17 taxa at 18 of the 24 study turbines. There have been no recorded mortalities of falcon, kākā or kererū. Australasian harrier (Circus approximans) has been the species for which the most mortalities have been recorded. Overall estimated annual mortality rates for years 1 and 2 were calculated to be approximately six and five birds per turbine respectively.     

Variability in greenhouse gas footprints of the global wind farm fleet

While technological characteristics largely determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the construction of a wind farm and meteorological circumstances the actual electricity production, a thorough analysis to quantify the GHG footprint variability (in g CO₂eq/kWh electricity produced) between wind farms is still lacking at the global scale. Here, we quantified the GHG footprint of 26,821 wind farms located across the globe, combining turbine-specific technological parameters, life-cycle inventory data, and location- and temporal-specific meteorological information. These wind farms represent 79% of the 651 global wind (GW) capacity installed in 2019. Our results indicate a median GHG footprint for global wind electricity of 10 g CO₂eq/kWh, ranging from 4 to 56 g CO₂eq/kWh (2.5th and 97.5th percentiles). Differences in the GHG footprint of wind farms are mainly explained by spatial variability in wind speed, followed by whether the wind farm is located onshore or offshore, the turbine diameter, and the number of turbines in a wind farm. We also provided a metamodel based on these four predictors for users to be able to easily obtain a first indication of GHG footprints of new wind farms considered. Our results can be used to compare the GHG footprint of wind farms to one another and to other sources of electricity in a location-specific manner.     

The Pattern of Complaints about Australian Wind Farms Does Not Match the Establishment and Distribution of Turbines: Support for the Psychogenic, ‘Communicated Disease’ Hypothesis

Background and Objectives

With often florid allegations about health problems arising from wind turbine exposure now widespread, nocebo effects potentially confound any future investigation of turbine health impact. Historical audits of health complaints are therefore important. We test 4 hypotheses relevant to psychogenic explanations of the variable timing and distribution of health and noise complaints about wind farms in Australia.

Setting

All Australian wind farms (51 with 1634 turbines) operating 1993–2012.

Methods

Records of complaints about noise or health from residents living near 51 Australian wind farms were obtained from all wind farm companies, and corroborated with complaints in submissions to 3 government public enquiries and news media records and court affidavits. These are expressed as proportions of estimated populations residing within 5 km of wind farms.

Results

There are large historical and geographical variations in wind farm complaints. 33/51 (64.7%) of Australian wind farms including 18/34 (52.9%) with turbine size >1 MW have never been subject to noise or health complaints. These 33 farms have an estimated 21,633 residents within 5 km and have operated complaint-free for a cumulative 267 years. Western Australia and Tasmania have seen no complaints. 129 individuals across Australia (1 in 254 residents) appear to have ever complained, with 94 (73%) being residents near 6 wind farms targeted by anti wind farm groups. The large majority 116/129(90%) of complainants made their first complaint after 2009 when anti wind farm groups began to add health concerns to their wider opposition. In the preceding years, health or noise complaints were rare despite large and small-turbine wind farms having operated for many years.

Conclusions

The reported historical and geographical variations in complaints are consistent with psychogenic hypotheses that expressed health problems are “communicated diseases” with nocebo effects likely to play an important role in the aetiology of complaints.     

Do field margin characteristics influence songbird nest‐site selection in adjacent hedgerows?

Capsule Dunnocks Prunella modularis showed a preference for nesting in hedgerows adjacent to sown rather than grass margins on four farms in southwest England.     

Responses of two marine top predators to an offshore wind farm

Quantifying the likely effects of offshore wind farms on wildlife is fundamental before permission for development can be granted by any Determining Authority. The effects on marine top predators from displacement from important habitat are key concerns during offshore wind farm construction and operation. In this respect, we present evidence for no significant displacement from a UK offshore wind farm for two broadly distributed species of conservation concern: common guillemot (Uria aalge) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Data were collected during boat‐based line transect surveys across a 360 km² study area that included the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm. Surveys were conducted over 10 years across the preconstruction, construction, and operational phases of the development. Changes in guillemot and harbor porpoise abundance and distribution in response to offshore wind farm construction and operation were estimated using generalized mixed models to test for evidence of displacement. Both common guillemot and harbor porpoise were present across the Robin Rigg study area throughout all three development phases. There was a significant reduction in relative harbor porpoise abundance both within and surrounding the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm during construction, but no significant difference was detected between the preconstruction and operational phases. Relative common guillemot abundance remained similar within the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm across all development phases. Offshore wind farms have the potential to negatively affect wildlife, but further evidence regarding the magnitude of effect is needed. The empirical data presented here for two marine top predators provide a valuable addition to the evidence base, allowing future decision making to be improved by reducing the uncertainty of displacement effects and increasing the accuracy of impact assessments.     

江苏地区10株鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌的耐药性及致病性特征分析

[背景] 鸭疫里默氏杆菌感染是危害水禽业最严重的细菌传染性病之一,鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌病的发病率有逐渐增高趋势,给养鹅业带来了巨大经济损失。[目的] 为更好地预防控制鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌病、解决鹅养殖场临床用药问题及进一步探究鸭源和鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌之间的关系。[方法] 对江苏地区的发病鹅进行鸭疫里默氏杆菌的分离培养、多重PCR方法鉴定及生化试验,并对分离获得的10株鸭疫里默氏杆菌进行药敏试验、血清型鉴定及雏鸭致病性试验。[结果] 药敏试验结果显示,鹅源分离菌株对大观霉素、磺胺异噁唑、头孢曲松、头孢拉定、氟苯尼考最敏感,对新霉素、卡那霉素、丁胺卡那霉素、庆大霉素和克林霉素耐药性最高且多重耐药性严重。血清型鉴定表明,江苏地区分离的10株鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌主要以血清型2型为主。雏鸭致病性试验表明,鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌分离株均引起雏鸭不同程度发病,其中3株鹅源临床分离株经1×10⁷ CFU/羽攻毒后可引起雏鸭100%的致死率。[结论] 为鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌的预防控制、临床治疗及进一步研究鸭源和鹅源鸭疫里默氏杆菌之间的关系提供依据。     

基于DRGs死亡风险分级在医疗质量评价中的应用

目的 基于DRGs探讨死亡风险分级评价医院医疗质量的方法。方法 以死亡风险分级方法评价医院整体医疗质量,进行科室间、专业间横向对比,并与总住院死亡指标进行比较。 结果 （1）总死亡率2015年0.137%低于2014年0.236%,低风险死亡率2015年0.008%高于2014年0,高风险死亡率2015年3.341%高于2014年1.773%;（2）非手术科室A和手术科室A在两类科室中总死亡率都是最高的,其中非手术科室A在中高风险和高风险死亡率是最高的,而手术科室A仅在中高风险死亡率是最高的。非手术科室B出现1例低风险死亡患者;（3）MDCR专业组总死亡率为0.15%居第六位,低风险和中低风险死亡率分别为0.01%和0.24%,其他专业组这两个死亡率都为0。 结论 基于DRGs死亡风险分级是评价医院医疗质量的有效方法。     

Physicochemical and biological properties of the coffee (Coffea arabica) rhizosphere suppress the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne exigua

ABSTRACT

We investigated the properties of rhizospheric soils infested with root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne exigua in 17 coffee (Coffea arabica) farms from the Southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Physicochemical (pH, clay and organic matter) and biological properties (RKN parasites and microbiota volatile toxicity on M. exigua) were correlated with the number of second-stage juveniles (J₂) and the egg hatching of M. exigua extracted from those rhizospheres. In the five most suppressive farms, the number of J₂ was less than 50/100?g of soil and the egg hatching was significantly low. The bacterium Pasteuria penetrans was found in four of the most suppressive farms with an average of 30% of J₂ infected with endospores. By using in vitro experiments the microbiota volatiles emitted from the most suppressive soils killed more than 83% of the J₂. Additionally, volatiles produced by Fusarium oxysporum, Cladosporium sp. and Syncephalastrum sp. isolated from M. exigua eggs, significantly killed the J₂. Identification of nematicidal compounds from the soils by GC-MS supported the strong involvement of the microbiota volatile toward RKN suppressiveness. Clay percentage and pH were similar in farms with the most suppressive soils (42.5% and 6.6%, respectively). Finally, the most suppressive soils came from farms with the highest coffee bean yields. Collectively, these results suggest the strong involvement of parasitic microorganisms, clay percentage and the pH suppressing RKN in soils from the major coffee production region in Brazil, and that volatiles emitted from total microbiota and exclusively from egg-isolated fungi are toxic to M. exigua.     

Role of secondary metabolites as defense chemicals against ice-ice disease bacteria in biofouler at carrageenophyte farms

Carrageenophyte farming is an expanding economical activity in North Borneo Island, Malaysia. During routine monitoring of “ice-ice” disease and epiphyte outbreak at commercial farms, it was apparent that culture lines were heavily (60–80%) infested with biofoulers, particularly Acanthophora spp. and Laurencia majuscula. However, only L. majuscula showed dominance and flourished even during “ice-ice” disease outbreak. Presence of chemical defense against seaweed pathogens was investigated in two populations of L. majuscula collected from three major carrageenophyte farms in two districts; (A) Lohok Butun, Selakan Island, and Bum-Bum Island, in Semporna district, and (B) Telutuh, Carrington Reef, and Balambangan Island, in Kudat district. The first population contained elatol (1), and iso-obtusol (2), and, second population contained (Z)-10,15-dibromo-9-hydroxy-chamigra-1,3(15),7(14)-triene (3) and (E)-10-15-dibromo-9-hydroxy-chamigra-1,3(15),7(14)-triene (4), as their antibacterial metabolites. All four metabolites showed highly selective inhibition against “ice-ice” disease bacteria compared to human pathogens at 30 μg disk⁻¹. In addition, seasonal variation of these compounds at two representative farms (Selakan Island [P-1] and Balambangan Island [P-2]) revealed a 120–170% increase in concentration during “ice-ice” disease outbreak. Microscopy of fresh specimens showed the presence of corps en cerise, which is the synthesis and storage site of halogenated metabolites at superficial cortical cells, branch tips, and trichoblasts. This suggests the importance of these metabolites as defense chemicals against “ice-ice” disease bacteria in L. majuscula that grows on seaweed culture lines.     

Assessing the potential impact of wind turbines on the endangered Galapagos Petrel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterodroma phaeopygia</Emphasis> at San Cristóbal Island,Galapagos

We evaluated the collision risk of Galapagos Petrels Pterodroma phaeopygia with a wind energy development recently constructed in the highlands of San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos. Trained observers recorded the movements of petrels at dusk and dawn from the wind project site, and from control sites located along ravines that host nesting colonies. Collision mortality was also assessed by monitoring circular plots and transect lines located under human-made structures. Petrel flight activity showed a bimodal pattern, with the majority of the movements recorded in the hours previous to sunrise. Most petrels (96%) moved along major ravines that descend from the highlands to the south–southeastern coast of the island. Significant differences in passage rates were found between the project and control sites, with only five petrels recorded on the site selected for turbine installation. Although our data suggest that wind farms will not be more detrimental to petrels than other existing man-made structures, a word of caution is made because even very low levels of additional mortality might be significant for a species with such low productivity and slow maturation rates. Moreover, some other possible indirect effects on habitat change and disturbance might occur that were not assessed in our study. A post-construction monitoring program should be implemented to adequately assess long-term effects on petrels and to enable these uncertainties to be satisfactorily addressed.     

Excitation of a magnetospheric MHD cavity by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability

The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is investigated analytically by using a one-dimensional nonuniform model of the Earth’s magnetosphere and the adjacent solar wind region. Its properties are shown to be essentially governed by the presence of an MHD cavity that arises in the magnetosphere because of the non-uniformity of the latter and also because of the jump in the parameters of the medium at the magnetopause (the outer boundary of the magnetosphere). System oscillations constitute a discrete spectrum of eigenmodes, which are determined by the wave vector k _t along the tangential discontinuity and also by the mode number n = 0, 1, 2, …, playing the role of the wavenumber along a coordinate normal to the magnetopause. Analytic expressions are obtained for the frequency and instability growth rate of each eigenmode and for the functions describing its spatial structure. All these quantities depend parametrically on the solar wind velocity V _W , or more precisely, on the Doppler frequency shift ω _W = k _t · V _W . For each eigenmode, there is a lower instability threshold depending on the parameter ω _W and a sharp maximum in the growth rate at the eigenfrequency of the magnetospheric cavity. For ω _W values below the threshold, the properties of an eigenmode are highly sensitive to the type of solar wind nonuniformity. Three cases are considered: a uniform solar wind and solar winds in which the speed of sound increases or decreases away from the magnetopause.