Meeting Abstract

P2-237  Sunday, Jan. 5  Gone with the wind: side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) have fewer parasites and a reduction in reactive oxygen metabolites at wind farms. ALAASAM, VJ*; KEEHN, JE; DURSO, AM; FRENCH, SS; FELDMAN, CR; University of Nevada, Reno, NV; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Point, OR; Utah State University, Logan UT; Utah State University, Logan UT; University of Nevada, Reno, NV valentina@nevada.unr.edu https://valentina-alaasam.weebly.com/

Wind-generated power is one of the fastest growing alternative energies worldwide and will likely account for 20% of USA energy by 2030. However, surprisingly little is known about how the development of wind farms impacts surrounding ecosystems. Habitat fragmentation, noise pollution, and increased human activity associated with wind farms could increase physiological stress for terrestrial vertebrates and may impact susceptibility to infection. We captured 153 side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) from three paired wind farm and undeveloped sites in the Mojave Desert. We quantified the external parasite load of each individual and collected blood samples to measure two proxies of oxidative stress: plasma antioxidant capacity (oxy) and concentrations of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs). Contrary to our expectations, individuals at wind farm sites had significantly fewer external parasites than at undeveloped sites. Oxidative stress, driven by decreases in dROMs, also differed between wind farm sites and undeveloped sites for k-strategist, yellow-throated females. Understanding the impacts of wind farms on local non-volant taxa is essential for developing strategies that will mitigate ecological costs of wind power.