Ecosystem Processes

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: 489

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Power Farm Environmental Impact Assessment on Water Quality Andersen, P. Report Wind Energy Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Marine Spatial Planning
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment of Sea Bottom and Marine Biology Leonhard, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Effects of Particle Size and Bulk Density on Erosion of Quartz Particles Roberts, J., Jepsen, R., Gotthard, D. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Predicting the Response of Bird Populations to Wind Energy-Related Deaths Morrison, M., Pollock, K., Oberg, A. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes
Measurements of Erosion of Undisturbed Bottom Sediments with Depth McNeil, J., Taylor, C., Lick, W. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Tidal Power and the Aquatic Environment of La Rance Retiere, C. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes
Intertidal Ecology and Potential Power Impacts, Bay of Fundy, Canada Gordon, D. Jr. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
An Analysis of the Efficacy of Four Artificial Reef Designs in Tropical Waters Brock, R., Norris, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Optimal Avoidance and Evasion Tactics in Predator-Prey Interactions Weihs, D., Webb, P. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Displaying 481 - 489 of 489 results