Habitat Loss Through Renewable Energy Infrastructure: Budgeting the Energetic Consequences for Wintering Geese

Abstract

The global expansion of renewable energy is a key societal objective but may conflict with nature conservation interests by causing habitat loss. Hence, planning energy infrastructure requires a thorough understanding of the behavior and habitat requirements of affected species during critical phases of the annual cycle. We assessed the energetic consequences of losing agricultural foraging habitat for a wintering goose species with a high degree of site-fidelity. Proposed renewable energy developments, specifically wind turbines and solar panels, pose a risk of losing winter cereal fields, which are the prime foraging habitat for the geese during cold spells. Using estimates of energy intake and expenditure derived from GPS-tagged individuals, we simulated body mass development under cold conditions with and without access to winter cereals as well as under mild conditions with pastures only. Across all cold winter scenarios, simulated body mass decreased, reflecting lower energy intake as well as increased thermoregulatory costs, and energetic deficits intensified when winter cereals were unavailable. Under mild winter conditions, body mass could be maintained without access to winter cereals. These results demonstrate that habitat loss has considerable energetic consequences for wintering geese under cold winter conditions. More broadly, our findings underscore the need to assess land-use change in the context of both resource availability and environmental conditions. Ensuring access to high-quality foraging habitats during energetically challenging conditions should therefore be prioritized in spatial planning. Where habitat loss is unavoidable, alternative habitats must provide comparable resource quality, low disturbance, and behavioral compatibility, particularly for site-faithful species.