DiverLog
The DiverLog project ("DiverLog – impacts of offshore wind farms on divers") is the follow-up project of "DIVER", which was conducted from 2014 to 2018. The previous project "DIVER" was initiated to fill relevant knowledge gaps regarding the ecology of red-throated divers by investigating the seasonal movements and habitat use of the birds – also in relation to offshore wind farms. More information about the DIVER project can be found under "Selected Projects, DIVER – Telemetry of divers".
The overall project objective of "DiverLog" is to determine the impact of offshore wind farms on the population of red-throated divers. Based on the results of "DIVER" further questions arose, which will be answered within the DiverLog project.
The DiverLog project has the following objectives:
- To determine habitat preferences for the Baltic and North Sea as well as to calculate avoidance distances to offshore wind farms using habitat models.
- To investigate the food spectrum to support the interpretation of habitat selection in the wintering areas.
- To characterise diving or foraging behaviour during the winter season.
- To calculate the energy expenditure during different activities.
- To identify the impact of offshore wind farms on the red-throated diver population using individual-based models (IBMs).
To do so, red-throated divers will be equipped with loggers over three years in their resting area in the German North Sea. Modern GPS loggers allow tracking the exact movement patterns. With the help of integrated pressure sensors, the foraging behaviour of the red-throated divers can also be recorded.
Detailed information about the project can be found on the homepage https://www.divertracking.com/
BioConsult SH leads the DiverLog project DiverLog in cooperation with its partners of Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, the company Ornitela in Lithuania as well as Novia University in Finland.
The project "DiverLog, Impact of offshore wind farms on divers – Development of basics for the approval and optimisation of logistic processes of offshore wind farms" is funded by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).
Project duration: 01.09.2021 to 31.12.2023
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