With support from the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy, the Regional Synthesis Workgroup has created a database that compiles and synthesizes data gaps and research needs from existing sources relevant to the environmental effects of offshore wind energy development on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. The database allows researchers and funders to easily access, sort, and prioritize research recommendations.
The Regional Synthesis Workgroup is made up of independent scientific experts and was formed by the New York State Environmental Technical Working Group to inform and provide guidance for regional-scale research and monitoring efforts in the eastern U.S. in relation to wildlife and offshore wind energy development. The database was developed for the Regional Synthesis Workgroup by the Biodiversity Research Institute and the U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) group. The team compiled over 800 research recommendations from over 60 sources, and then condensed these into roughly 220 synthesized research recommendations. The database design and content were shaped by input from the Regional Synthesis Workgroup, as well as stakeholder input from a public meeting in September 2022 (recording) and online survey in Fall 2022. To complement the database, the Workgroup developed written guidance, "Responsible Practices for Regional Wildlife Monitoring and Research in Relation to Offshore Wind Development", which focuses on recommendations for regional research and includes definitions of common terminology to support regional communications, suggested criteria for prioritization of regional research topics, and general recommendations on study design and data transparency for regional-scale research efforts.
The Database ReadMe File provides a summary of database contents, definitions of database fields, and additional information on the scope, development, and use of the database, as well as a suggested citation for the database. We strongly encourage reference to this document.
The online tool below presents a summary of the synthesized research recommendations and provides links to relevant citations. Results can be refined by selecting from the drop-down menus or entering a search term. Synthesized research recommendations are ordered alphabetically. The order does not signify the importance or priority of each recommendation.
Download the complete database as a spreadsheet here.
Download the synthesized recommendations below as a spreadsheet here.
A similar database for the U.S. Pacific Coast is available here.
| Research Recommendation | Stressor/Topic | Receptor | Development Phase | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understand alteration of trophic interactions by installation of OSW farms
Assess how changes in habitat and species composition effects trophic interactions around OSW and associated changes in species interactions (e.g., predation, competition, facilitation, parasitism) and bioenergetics, with implications for multiple species. |
Diet and Food Web Dynamics, Habitat Change | Benthos, Ecosystem/Oceanographic processes, Fishes, Invertebrates | Pre-construction, Construction, Operations & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Boon et al. 2018, Degraer et al. 2021, Gulka and Williams 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Petruny-Parker et al. 2015, Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) 2021 |
| Understand baseline survival, reproductive success, and population structure
Collect or model population data including demographics of age, sex, breeding status as it relates to survival, reproductive success, and population structure. |
Baseline, Population Dynamics | Birds, Fishes, Invertebrates | Pre-construction, Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Gulka and Williams 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Petruny-Parker et al. 2015 |
| Understand ecological consequences of OSW structures as fish aggregating devices
Investigate the ecological consequences of fish associations with underwater structures, including associated with aggregation |
Attraction | Fishes | Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Gulka and Williams 2020 |
| Understand ecological impacts of decommissioning
Assess the impacts of decommissioning OSW farms and different decommissioning strategies on ecology and biological populations, including benthic ecosystems and connectivity of different taxonomic and functional groups. |
Habitat Change | Benthos, Fishes, Invertebrates, Marine mammals | Operations & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Degraer et al. 2021, Fowler et al. 2020 |
| Understand energetic consequences of displacement
Assess individual and population-level energetic consequences of displacement due to the behavioral and physiological effects of OSW development activities. |
Displacement, Physiology and Energetics | Birds, Marine mammals | Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Gulka and Williams 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Southall et al. 2021 |
| Understand energetic requirements
Examine energetic requirements and health condition of individuals |
Baseline, Physiology and Energetics | Marine mammals | Pre-construction | Southall et al. 2021 |
| Understand extent of artificial reef effects
Assess how local organic enrichment around OSW substrates affects benthic community structure and productivity, the distance this "halo" effect extends from each foundation, and whether these halos potentially overlap to form a “meta-reef effect”. |
Habitat Change | Benthos | Operations & Maintenance | Degraer et al. 2021 |
| Understand how changes in zooplankton distribution affects higher trophic levels
Explore how shifts in zooplankton populations affect higher trophic levels. |
Baseline, Abundance and Distribution, Diet and Food Web Dynamics | Invertebrates | Pre-construction | Gulka and Williams 2020 |
| Understand how species use sound for life functions
Explore the primary uses of hearing for life functions. |
Baseline, Noise | Sea turtles | Gulka and Williams 2020 | |
| Understand how turbine layout affects connectivity of among artificial reefs
Assess the effects of OSW turbine array layout and distance between turbines on connectivity for populations of marine fauna and their larvae associated with artificial reefs on turbine foundations....Read more Assess the effects of OSW turbine array layout and distance between turbines on connectivity for populations of marine fauna and their larvae associated with artificial reefs on turbine foundations. Determine the degree of connectivity between artificial reef hotspots, which may vary depending on habitat type. Read less |
Population Dynamics | Benthos, Fishes, Invertebrates | Operations & Maintenance | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) 2022, Degraer et al. 2021, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021 |
| Understand links between physiology and sensing capabilities and behavior
Obtain increased insight into the morphological, physiological, and cognitive mechanisms underlying movement decisions. |
Baseline, Physiology and Energetics, Movement and Behavior | Bats, Birds | Pre-construction | May et al. 2017 |
| Understand OSW interactions with the formation of prey aggregations
Better understand predator-prey interactions, and use this information to help determine if OSW actually benefits predators (such as via improved food availability) or simply aggregates prey |
Diet and Food Web Dynamics, Ecological Drivers | Birds, Fishes, Marine mammals, Sea turtles | Operations & Maintenance | Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Kraus et al. 2019 |
| Understand relationship between diet composition, prey availability, and productivity
Determine dietary patterns and the relationship between prey availability and productivity. |
Baseline, Diet and Food Web Dynamics | Birds | Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021 | |
| Understand role of OSW structures as fish aggregating devices
Understand role of OSW structures as fish aggregating devices (FADs) and the resulting potential for positive/negative effects, such as effects on migration patterns, stopover, etc. (e.g.,, potential to act as an ecological trap) |
Attraction | Ecosystem/Oceanographic processes, Fishes | Pre-construction, Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) 2021 |
| Understand the benthic climax community of turbines structures
Understand the climax benthic community (stable benthic community) which forms and is sustained at OSW sites to help inform the ecological context both during long-term operation and after decommissioning. |
Habitat Change | Benthos, Fishes | Operations & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Degraer et al. 2021 |
| Understand the consequences of responses to sound
Assess the individual and population level consequences of marine noise pollution stress, including avoidance, masking, PTS, reduced hearing sensitivity, chronic effects, and long-term adaptation of species. |
Noise | Fishes, Invertebrates, Marine mammals | Construction, Operations & Maintenance, Decommissioning | Di Franco et al. 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Roche et al. 2016 |
| Understand the population-level consequences of sound
Understand the individual, population, and community-level consequences, disturbance, and behavioral effects associated with noise and vibration effects from OSW activities, including pile driving and associated displacement; shipping and construction noise inducing avoidance behavior and...Read more Understand the individual, population, and community-level consequences, disturbance, and behavioral effects associated with noise and vibration effects from OSW activities, including pile driving and associated displacement; shipping and construction noise inducing avoidance behavior and reducing fitness of sound-sensitive organisms, and how population structure and distribution patterns may be impacted. Read less |
Cumulative Impacts, Noise | Benthos, Fishes, Invertebrates, Marine mammals, Sea turtles | Pre-construction, Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Dannheim et al. 2020, Di Franco et al. 2020, Gulka and Williams 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021 |
| Validate efficacy of acoustic mitigation strategies
Improve understanding of effectiveness of existing noise/acoustic mitigation strategies including acoustic deterrent devices during impulsive noise including displacement efficiency, noise abatement and the conditions influencing effectiveness, ramp up procedures, aversive sound mitigation, and...Read more Improve understanding of effectiveness of existing noise/acoustic mitigation strategies including acoustic deterrent devices during impulsive noise including displacement efficiency, noise abatement and the conditions influencing effectiveness, ramp up procedures, aversive sound mitigation, and other potential methods for reducing sound-related impacts to marine mammals and other marine species. Read less |
Technology/ Methods Development, Noise | Birds, Fishes, Marine mammals | Construction | Gulka and Williams 2020, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, Abercrombie and Chytalo 2017 |
| Validate efficacy of collision mitigation strategies
Validate efficacy of existing collision mitigation strategies including curtailment, "smart" curtailment, feathering, and painting blades to increase visibility and examine the different factors that may influence efficacy including landscapes, species, and turbine models. |
Technology/ Methods Development, Turbine collision | Bats, Birds | Pre-construction, Construction, Operations & Maintenance | Allison et al. 2019, Hein et al. 2021, Hein and Straw 2021, May et al. 2017, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) 2021, WOZEP project team 2016 |