Bioenergy and wildlife: Threats and opportunities for grassland conservation

Fargione, JE; Cooper, TR; Flaspohler, DJ; Hill, J; Lehman, C; Tilman, D; McCoy, T; McLeod, S; Nelson, EJ; Oberhauser KS

HERO ID

597464

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2009

Language

English

HERO ID 597464
In Press No
Year 2009
Title Bioenergy and wildlife: Threats and opportunities for grassland conservation
Authors Fargione, JE; Cooper, TR; Flaspohler, DJ; Hill, J; Lehman, C; Tilman, D; McCoy, T; McLeod, S; Nelson, EJ; Oberhauser KS
Journal BioScience
Volume 59
Issue 9
Page Numbers 767-777
Abstract Demand for land to grow corn for ethanol increased in the United States by 4.9 million hectares between 2005 and 2008, with wide-ranging effects on wildlife, including habitat loss. Depending on how biofuels are made, additional production could have similar impacts. We present a framework for assessing the impacts of biofuels on wildlife, and we use this framework to evaluate the impacts of existing and emerging biofuels feedstocks on grassland wildlife. Meeting the growing demand for biofuels while avoiding negative impacts on wildlife will require either biomass sources that do not require additional land (e.g., wastes, residues, cover crops, algae) or crop production practices that are compatible with wildlife. Diverse native prairie offers a potential approach to bioenergy production (including fuel, electricity, and heat) that is compatible with wildlife. Additional research is required to assess the compatibility of wildlife with different composition, inputs, and harvest management approaches, and to address concerns over prairie yields versus the yields of other biofuel crops.
Doi 10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.8
Wosid WOS:000270634700008
Url http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.8
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments The DOI brings you to an access page where you can select from two different websites. To increase ease of finding this reference, the URL is also included.
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword corn; biofuel; grassland; wildlife; cellulosic ethanol