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Ecosystem Processes

Fish in a kelp forest as example habitat
The physical, chemical, and biological processes that link organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem processes are the physical, chemical, and biological processes that link organisms and their environment. These may include biogeochemical/nutrient cycling, energy flow, and food web dynamics. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. It can be broken down further into categories such as an aquatic ecosystem which involves a body of water, or even further to marine ecosystem or freshwater ecosystem.

Organisms feed off one another in a balanced food chain, but small changes to the seascape may significantly impact the existing balance. By just impacting one population, the effects may propagate to all other species in the area, potentially leading to overpopulation, decimation, habitat changes, changes in the nutrient cycle, energy flow, resource availability, etc. As offshore wind and marine renewable energy devices enter the water, any stressor could alter the flow of energy or physical environment enough to upset the balance of the ecosystem. However, the particular concerns are changes in flow and impacts on water quality.

Photo Credit: NOAA

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Ecosystem Processes.

Total: 512

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Tidal barrages in the UK: Ecological and social impacts, potential mitigation, and tools to support barrage planning Hooper, T., Austen, M. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Collision Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Assessment of Zooplankton Injury and Mortality Associated With Underwater Turbines for Tidal Energy Production Schlezinger, D., Taylor, C., Howes, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision Ecosystem Processes
Managing for Interactions between Local and Global Stressors of Ecosystems Brown, C., Saunders, M., Possingham, H. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Marine Renewable Energies: Perspectives and Implications for Marine Ecosystems Azzellino, A., Conley, D., Vicinanza, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Potential Impacts of Ocean Acidification on the Puget Sound Food Web Busch, D., Harvey, C., McElhany, P. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
EPRI Workshop on EMF and Aquatic Life Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Workshop Article Marine Energy EMF Ecosystem Processes
Modelling Potential Changes in Marine Biogeochemistry due to Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farms van der Molen, J., Rees, J., Limpenny, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Habitat Engineering by Decadal-Scale Bioturbation around Shipwrecks on the Great Barrier Reef Mid-Shelf Stieglitz, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Energy: Understanding Impacts on Great Lakes Fishery and Other Aquatic Resources GLWC, GLC Workshop Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Environmental and Human Dimensions of Ocean Renewable Energy Development Henkel, S., Conway, F., Boehlert, G. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Effects of Offshore Windfarms on Marine Wildlife - A Synthesis for Swedish Waters Bergström, L., Kautsky, L., Malm, T. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Experimental Study of Scour around Support Structures of Model Marine Hydrokinetic Devices Volpe, M. Thesis Marine Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
A Framework for Understanding Cumulative Impacts, Supporting Environmental Decisions, and Informing Resilience-Based Management of The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Anthony, K., Dambacher, J., Walshe, T. Report Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
The Ecology of Marine Tidal Race Environments and the Impact of Tidal Energy Development Broadhurst, M. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Artificial Reef Effect in Relation to Offshore Renewable Energy Conversion: State of the Art Langhamer, O. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Geophysical Surveys of the Wave Energy Test Site at MCBH, Kāneohe: Diver Surveys Site 2 Sea Engineering Inc Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Representing the Acquisition and Use of Energy by Individuals in Agent-Based Models of Animal Populations Sibly, R., Grimm, V., Martin, B. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Bird-Community Shifts in Relation to Wind Farms: A Case Study Comparing a Wind Farm, Croplands, and Secondary Forests in Southern Mexico Villegas-Patraca, R., Macgregor-Fors, I., Ortiz-Martinez, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Disruption to Benthic Habitats by Moorings of Wave Energy Installations: A Modelling Case Study and Implications for Overall Ecosystem Functioning Krivtsov, V., Linfoot, B. Journal Article Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment, Ecosystem Processes
Offshore Wind Farms, New Players in Marine Ecosystems Lindeboom, H. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Hornsea Project 2 Environmental Impact Assessment SMart Wind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Modeling the Physical and Biochemical Influence of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant Grandelli, P., Rocheleau, G., Hamrick, J. Report Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Singapore Strait Hydrodynamics: From Ancient Myths to Renewable Energy Behera, M., Haihua, X., Tkalich, P. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
First Specific Biodiversity Assessment in the Portuguese Pilot Zone for Marine Renewables Coelho, H., Rodrigues, S., Ferriera, R. Conference Paper Marine Energy Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Annual environmental report 2011 – Belwind phase 1 Belwind Report Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Power Reef Effects and Reef Fauna Roles Krone, R. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Ocean Acidification-Induced Food Quality Deterioration Constrains Trophic Transfer Rossoll, D., Bermúdez, R., Hauss, H. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Structure-Forming Corals and Sponges and Their Use as Fish Habitat in Bering Sea Submarine Canyons Miller, R., Hocevar, J., Stone, R. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems Doney, S., Ruckelshaus, M., Duffy, J. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Changing Coasts: Marine Aliens and Artificial Structures Mineur, F., Cook, E., Minchin, D. Book Chapter Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Greening the Wind: Environmental and Social Considerations for Wind Power Development Ledec, G., Rapp, K., Aiello, R. Book Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes, Birds, Bats
South Korea's Plans for Tidal Power: When a "Green" Solution Creates More Problems Ko, Y., Schubert, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Social & Economic Data
Effects of wind farms and food scarcity on a large scavenging bird species following an epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy Martinez-Abrain, A., Tavecchia, G., Regan, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
State of the Science: An Assessment of Research on the Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy in the Great Lakes Region Hinderer, J., Pebbles, V., Pearson, B. Workshop Article Wind Energy Ecosystem Processes
Physical and Biological Modeling of a 100 Megawatt Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Discharge Plume Rocheleau, G., Grandelli, P. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
The Multi-Use In Wind Farm Projects: More Conflicts Or A Win-Win Opportunity? Lacroix, D., Sylvain, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Ecosystem Processes
Effects of the Construction of Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm on the Prey Base of Little Tern Sternula albifons at its Most Important UK Colony Perrow, M., Gilroy, J., Skeate, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish
A High Resolution Hydrodynamic Model of Puget Sound to Support Nearshore Restoration Feasibility Analysis and Design Khangaonkar, T., Yang, Z. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
State of the Washington Coast: Ecology, Management, and Research Priorities Skewgar, E., Dethier, M., Pearson, S. Report Marine Energy Chemicals Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
An Assessment of the Conservation Importance of Species and Habitats Identified During a Series of Recent Research Cruises around Scotland Moore, C., Roberts, J. Report Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates

Displaying 401 - 440 of 512 results