Page 389 - A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

Chapter 20 • Solar Energy Development and the Biosphere 397

Table 20.1 Known or Expected Impacts of USSE on a Subset of Taxa
Air-Cooled High Energy
Habitat Panels and Condenser Flux Field
Fragmentation Mirrors Fences (CSP Only) (CSP Only)
Birds Passerines and − − o − −
insectivorous birds
Raptors o − o o −
Ravens + o + o +
Waterbirds o − o o o
Mammals Bats − o − − o
Bighorn sheep − o − o o
Coyotes − o − o o
Kit foxes − + − o o
Reptiles Desert tortoise − o − o o
Insects Flying insects − − o − −
Plants Native annuals − o − o o
Native perennials − − − o o
Invasive plants o o + o o
Total type Negative 14 10 10 6 5
disturbance Positive 1 2 2 0 0
known effect
Impacts are listed as positive (+), negative (−), or neutral (o) based on experience and judgment of the authors and the literature.
Source: From Moore-O’Leary R, Hernandez R, Johnston, DS, et al. Sustainability of utility-scale solar energy—critical ecological
concepts. Front Ecol Environ 2017. doi:10.1002/fee.1517.

design, technology, size, siting, and land-use efficiency of each facility. At the individual spe-
cies scale, disturbance may elicit behavioral responses (e.g., avoidance of noise and light),
reduce resource acquisition opportunities, and alter social dynamics, each of which concur-
rently occur with physiological responses (e.g., increased heart rate). These responses may
result in energy and nutritional expenditures, which lead to reduced vitality, reduced fecun-
dity, and increased mortality in wildlife species [23], although the effects often are species-
and habitat-specific. For example, desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) translocated to adja-
cent habitats outside of a solar facility footprint prior to construction activities have been
shown to experience higher body temperatures and increases in energy expenditure dur-
ing the first year following displacement; however, negative effects on tortoise growth and
body condition were not documented [24]. Displacive installations may also lead to ecologi-
cal effects spanning beyond individual taxa, affecting species–species and species–process
interactions (e.g., trophic interactions) in ecosystems [25,26]. In addition to direct impacts
experienced on-site, wildlife communities and habitats may be affected outside of facility
footprints. For example, wildlife abundance and composition downstream of a large power
plant may be modified due to altered magnitudes of stream surface flow, timing, duration,
and velocity [16]. Wildlife responses may vary temporally, including temporary movement of
individuals away from disturbance during construction activities and permanent displace-
ment of individuals due to habitat loss. Such has been reported for bird densities and diver-
sities, which are lower within USSE development footprints than surrounding areas [27–29].