A study on the effects of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) on some wind farms in Türkiye

Since the number of Wind farms have been increased for 20 years, the effects of wind farms on bat have become more attantion. Bats could be effected negatively from WF because Bats are only mammal group that can fly and sensitive to abrupt pressure change. Because of these reasons, effects of WF on habitat use, foraging and migration in the pre-construction and post-construction periods have been investigated by different researchers. A total of 39 bats recorded in the territory of Türkiye in the territory of zoogeographically registered. In this context, determination of the effects of WF on bats in Türkiye is very important. In this study, for the first time in Türkiye, the effects of some wind farms on the bats were determined using a scientific standard. The fieldwork were carried out in Yalova Wind Farm and Mersin Wind Farm, which are in operation phase, and Akyar Wind Farm, which is still in the stage of construction. Fieldwork conducted in the WFs and surroundings during April – September when the bats are active. Moreover, we performed carcass search studies to determine the bats which were died due to turbines. Direct (individual recording) and indirect (ultrasonic sound recording) observation methods were used in research areas to determine the interactions with bat species and wind turbines in the region. A total of 21 different species of bats were identified at 3 WFs and their surroundings. We found that the bats were foraging and moving in and around WFs. The result of carcass search studies performed around the turbine, showed that all the bat carcasses were belonged to Vespertilionidae family. An individual male bat death were recorded in Mersin WF, four in Yalova WF. As a result, we found that 3 bats were died due to collusion and 2 were died due to barotrauma syndrome. Dead bat individuals were found in Yalova Wind Farm in july and in august; Mersin Wind Farm were recorded in october. As a result, it was seen that wind farms in Türkiye can affect the bats and different solution proposals have been presented for the mitigation of the injuries and collusion.