About the project
Habitat (loss) modelling and displacement of German Bight wintering red-throated divers based on telemetry (tracking movement and behaviour) data from 2022 and 2023, with new tracking planned in 2024.We modelled the distribution of divers in relation to the dynamic offshore environment and anthropogenic pressures (salinity, chlorophyll-a concentration, water depth, windmills and maritime traffic). We found previously that divers were strongly displaced from wind farms in suitable habitat. The displacement effect gradually decreased with distance from the wind farms (being very strong up to 5 km away), but a significant effect could be detected up to 10–15 km away. These findings should be taken into consideration in marine spatial planning to avoid cumulative impacts on red-throated diver populations. Additionally, the project aimed to be used in individual-based model to assess the effects of offshore wind farms and other anthropogenic disturbances on divers fitness and population.
Stefan Heinänen
Senior Lecturer