Wind farm facilities in Germany kill noctule bats from near and far

Over recent years, it became widely accepted that alternative, renewable energy may come at some risk for wildlife, for example, when wind turbines cause large numbers of bat fatalities. To better assess likely populations effects of wind turbine related wildlife fatalities, we studied the geographical origin of the most common bat species found dead below German wind turbines, the noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula). We measured stable isotope ratios of non-exchangeable hydrogen in fur keratin to separate migrants from local individuals, used a linear mixed-effects model to identify temporal, spatial and biological factors explaining the variance in measured stable isotope ratios and determined the geographical breeding provenance of killed migrants using isoscape origin models. We found that 72% of noctule bat casualties (n = 136) were of local origin, while 28% were long-distance migrants. These findings highlight that bat fatalities at German wind turbines may affect both local and distant populations. Our results indicated a sex and age-specific vulnerability of bats towards lethal accidents at turbines, i.e. a relatively high proportion of killed females were recorded among migratory individuals, whereas more juveniles than adults were recorded among killed bats of local origin. Migratory noctule bats were found to originate from distant populations in the Northeastern parts of Europe. The large catchment areas of German wind turbines and high vulnerability of female and juvenile noctule bats call for immediate action to reduce the negative cross-boundary effects of bat fatalities at wind turbines on local and distant populations. Further, our study highlights the importance of implementing effective mitigation measures and developing species and scale-specific conservation approaches on both national and international levels to protect source populations of bats. The efficacy of local compensatory measures appears doubtful, at least for migrant noctule bats, considering the large geographical catchment areas of German wind turbines for this species

Contested rights to grieve in forced migrants' narratives living in Nordrhein-Westfalen

Forced migration involves many different losses (e.g., people, places, homes, beliefs). However, grief for these migratory losses is neither recognized nor well understood (Caseado, Hong & Harrington 2010). This study explores and analyzes how experiences of loss involved in forced migration and their grieving are narrated by young forced migrants living in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Open autobiographical interviews asking questions about participants' life stories and imaginaries of the future have been conducted with forced migrants and German citizens aged between 18 and 30 living in NRW. Experts – people who work daily with forced migrants – were also interviewed. The interviews were analyzed following a Grounded Theory inspired approach (Corbin & Strauss, 2014). Forced migrants lose a life and future projects they had imagined for themselves before forced displacement. They express grieving by narrating troubling emotions, they continue to project themselves in the environment they escaped from and they mention their lost projects and plans when asked about their future prospects in NRW. These losses and their grieving are hardly recognized by German citizens, which appears to make it difficult for them to mourn what they have lost.La migración forzosa implica muchas pérdidas distintas (por ejemplo, personas, lugares, costumbres, creencias). Pero el duelo por estas pérdidas migratorias no se reconoce ni se entiende (Caseado, Hong y Harrington 2010) y, por tanto, es crucial explorar y analizar estos procesos. En respuesta, este estudio se propone investigar los marcos sociales y las formas de expresión del duelo y del posible luto en los procesos migratorios. Se han realizado entrevistas autobiográficas abiertas con migrantes forzosos y ciudadanos alemanes entre 18 y 30 años de edad que residen en NRW, con preguntas sobre sus historias de vida y sus imaginarios de futuro. Además, he entrevistado a expertos, es decir, personas que trabajan a diario con migrantes forzosos. Las entrevistas se han analizado siguiendo una aproximacón inspirada en Teoría Fundamentada (Corbin y Strauss 2014). Los migrantes forzosos pierden una vida y los proyectos de futuro que habían imaginado para sí mismos antes de ser forzados a emigrar. Estas experiencias de pérdida y duelo no tienen suficiente reconocimiento por parte de los ciudadanos alemanes, lo cual parece dificultar el luto respecto a aquello que se ha perdido.La migració forçosa implica moltes pèrdues diferents (per exemple, persones, llocs, costums, creences). Però el dol per aquestes pèrdues migratòries no es reconeix ni s'entén (Caseado, Hong i Harrington 2010) i, per tant, és crucial explorar i analitzar aquests processos. En resposta, aquest estudi es proposa investigar els marcs socials i les formes d'expressió del dol i del possible procés de dol (mourning) en els processos migratoris. S'han realitzat entrevistes autobiogràfiques obertes amb migrants forçosos i ciutadans alemanys entre 18 i 30 anys que viuen a NRW, amb preguntes sobre les històries de vida dels participants i els seus imaginaris de futur. A més, he entrevistat experts, és a dir, persones que treballen diàriament amb migrants forçosos. Les entrevistes s'han analitzat seguint una aproximació inspirada en la Teoria Fonamentada (Corbin i Strauss 2014). Deixant les seves llars enrere, els migrants forçosos perden una vida i els projectes de futur que havien imaginat per a si mateixos abans de ser forçats a emigrar. Aquestes experiències de pèrdua i dol no tenen gaire reconeixement per part dels ciutadans alemanys, cosa que sembla dificultar el procés de dol envers el que s'ha perdut.Societat de la informació i el coneixemen

Sampling locations of <i>Nyctalus noctula</i> carcasses (open circles) at wind turbines in the Eastern part of Germany.

<p>The seven major terrestrial natural regions in Germany <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103106#pone.0103106-BfN1" target="_blank">[26]</a> are shown in different shades of grey. Macrochores <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0103106#pone.0103106-BfN1" target="_blank">[26]</a> within the major natural regions are indicated by solid lines.</p

Predicted geographical provenance of the 28% of migratory <i>Nyctalus noctula (n = 37)</i>, separated by females (A,B) and males (C,D) found dead below wind turbines in Eastern Germany.

<p>Geographical areas marked red are areas of likely breeding origin and those marked blue areas of unlikely breeding origin. Predictions shown in map A and C are based on δ²H_f. Predictions shown in map B and D incorporate additional information on the preferred cardinal heading of <i>N. noctula</i> during spring migration. Areas falling outside the distribution range of <i>N. noctula</i> according to the IUCN are overlaid with a semi-transparent layer.</p

Results of the linear mixed-effects model fit by REML for predicting δ²H_f from ‘season’, ‘sex’ and ‘migratory behaviour’ with ‘sampling location’ as random effect.

<p>Degrees of freedom: 88; number of observations: 136; number of groups (random effect ‘sampling location’): 45. AIC = 947.5, BIC = 964.8, logLik <b>−</b>467.8; random intercept (mean 0, SD 6.36), and residual term (mean 0, SD 6.31) were normally distributed.</p

Knowledge as transformative energy : on linking models and experiments in the energy transition in buildings

The transformation processes towards a sustainable development are complex. How can science contribute towards new solutions and ideas leading to change in practice? The authors of this book discuss these questions along the energy transition in the building sector. A transformative research that leaves the neutral observer position needs appropriate concepts and methods: how can knowledge from different disciplines and from practice be integrated in order to be able to explain and understand complex circumstances and interrelations? What role do complex (agent-based) models and experiments play in this respect? Which mix of methods is required in transformative science in order to actively support the actors in transformation processes? Theses questions are illustrated by the example of the BMBF funded project "EnerTransRuhr"

Wissen als transformative Energie : zur Verknüpfung von Modellen und Experimenten in der Gebäude-Energiewende

Die Transformationsprozesse hin zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung sind komplex. Wie kann Wissenschaft dazu beitragen, dass neue Lösungen und Ideen in der Praxis zu Veränderung führen? Dieser Frage gehen die Autorinnen und Autoren am Beispiel der Gebäudeenergiewende nach. Eine transformative Forschung, die den neutralen Beobachterposten verlässt, braucht entsprechende Konzepte und Methoden: Wie kann Wissen aus unterschiedlichen Disziplinen und aus der Praxis integriert werden, um komplexe Sachverhalte und Zusammenhänge zu erklären und zu verstehen? Welche Rolle spielen komplexe (agentenbasierte) Modelle und Experimente dabei? Wie sieht der Methodenmix einer transformativen Wissenschaft aus, die Akteure bei Transformationsprozessen aktiv unterstützt? Illustriert werden diese Fragen am Beispiel des vom BMBF geförderten Forschungsprojektes "EnerTransRuhr"