HRI Science Seminar Series - "Evaluating the Effects of Wind Energy Development on Wildlife: A Mechanistic Approach"

Dr. Jennifer Smith
Research Scientist
Department of Biological Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Renewable energy is increasing rapidly, yet the effects on wildlife are poorly understood. Here, a mechanistic approach is taken to investigate the effects of a wind farm on the survival and lekking behavior of Greater Prairie-Chickens by evaluating predation risk across the landscape. Results suggest that, although predators showed weak behavioral avoidance of wind turbines, there was no effect of the wind farm on prairie-chicken survival. In contrast, male prairie-chickens spent less time in non-breeding behaviors at leks close to, compared to far from the wind farm. This research will inform siting guidelines that minimize the potential impacts of wind farms on wildlife.

Dr. Jennifer Smith is an applied avian ecologist and her research aims to evaluate the effects of global change on the spatial ecology, demography, and behavior of birds and, on occasion, other taxa. Her research often takes a mechanistic approach using various techniques, including field observations, experiments, and statistical and geospatial analyses. She is interested in both basic questions concerning life-history trade-offs and species distributions as well as applied questions pertaining to land-use and management scenarios. Overall, her objective is to conduct research that informs policy and promotes sustainable land uses that consider the conservation of wildlife and human well-being. She completed her undergraduate at Cardiff University, Wales and PhD at the University of Birmingham, UK. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.