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Biology
A pair of Kansas State University biology professors are using engaged, collaborative research to identify what impacts, if any, wind power development could have on greater prairie-chickens in the tallgrass prairie of the Flint Hills and to suggest mitigation strategies if they find significant negative impacts.
Brett Sandercock and Samantha Wisely, both K-State assistant professors of biology, received a four-year grant from the National Wind Coordinating Committee Wildlife Workgroup to conduct their work. The group is a national committee of energy developers and conservation professionals who are interested in the responsible development of wind power; studying the effects of wind power on the demography and studying the population genetics of the greater prairie-chicken.
Sandercock and Wisely are conducting research to provide unbiased, neutral information so that wind power and conservation stakeholders might make informed decisions regarding wind power. Wind developers will work with researchers to identify the most appropriate locations for wind farms. Conservation professionals will use this research to help establish guidelines to identify where wind towers might be placed so as to minimize environmental impacts and to identify potential habitats that could be set aside and not used for development. For more information on this engaged work, see: http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/prairiechickens92606.html
