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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
Observed impacts of large wind farms on grassland carbon cycling Wu, D., Grodsky, S., Xu, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Estuarine Particles Simulations: the Connection Between Delaware Bay and Offshore Wind Lease Areas Li, Y., Lopez, A., Bemis, K. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Overlap between the Mid-Atlantic Bight Cold Pool and offshore wind lease areas Horwitz, R., Miles, T., Munroe, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Numerical Study of Turbulent Wake of Offshore Wind Turbines and Retention Time of Larval Dispersion Ajmi, S., Boutet, M., Bennis, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Cordes, E., Demopoulos, A., Davies, A. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part B) Odinga, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
Potential Hydrodynamic Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology: An Evaluation from Wind to Whales National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part C) Quee, N. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Moving towards an Agent-based movement model for harbour seals in the Netherlands Aarts, G., Brasseur, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Vision paper: Decommissioning offshore windparks in the Belgian part of the North Sea Van Maele, T., Desplenter, N., Van Aken, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Who lives in a pear tree under the sea? A first look at tree reefs as a complex natural biodegradable structure to enhance biodiversity in marine systems Dickson, J., Franken, O., Watson, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Cruise report Hywind Tampen 13 to 28 March 2023 Utne-Palm, A., Søiland, H., Sveistrup, A. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Pelagic Fish
Scenario studies on potential ecosystem effects in future offshore wind farms in the North Sea Zijl, F., Stendert, L., Leummens, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Annual environmental report 2022 – Belwind Belwind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental benthos survey, Hywind Scotland Moskeland, T. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind: Understanding the influence of man-made structures in the marine environment Howell Marine Consulting Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCEEW) Guidance Lighting Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Ecosystem Processes, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Setting EU Threshold Values for impulsive underwater sound Sigray, P., Andersson, M., André, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Five golden principles to advance marine reef restoration by linking science and industry Hofstede, R., Bouma, T., van Koningsveld, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
The large-scale impact of anthropogenic mixing by offshore wind turbine foundations in the shallow North Sea Christiansen, N., Carpenter, J., Daewel, U. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
The effect of offshore windfarms on hyperbenthic communities in the Belgian Part of the North Sea Vansteelandt, M. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Energy and Marine Biodiversity in the North Sea: Life Cycle Impact Assessment for Benthic Communities Li, C., Coolen, J., Scherer, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Projected cross-shore changes in upwelling induced by offshore wind farm development along the California coast Raghukumar, K., Nelson, T., Jacox, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
An integrated conceptual model to characterize the effects of offshore wind farms on ecosystem services Baulaz, Y., Mouchet, M., Niquil, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
An ecosystem-wide approach for assessing the spatialized cumulative effects of local and global changes on coastal ecosystem functioning Noguès, Q., Bourdaud, P., Araignous, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Thornton Bank Offshore Wind Farm Annual Report 2022 Magnus, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Monitoring of Marine Life During Offshore Wind Energy Development—Guidelines and Recommendations Kershaw, F., Jones, A., Folsom-O’Keefe, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
Impacts of human activities on the supply of marine ecosystem services: A conceptual model for offshore wind farms to aid quantitative assessments Van de Pol, L., Van der Biest, K., Taelman, S. E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Applicability of the gape monitor to study flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) feeding behaviour Tonk, L., Witbaard, R., van Dalen, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
The effect of artificial reef design on the attraction of herbivorous fish and on coral recruitment, survival, and growth Hylkema, A., Debrot, A., Cammenga, R. Journal Article Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Increased food availability at offshore wind farms affects trophic ecology of plaice Pleuronectes platessa Buyse, J., Hostens, K., Degraer, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
eDNA metabarcoding reveals distinct fish and invertebrate diversity patterns in the shallow and well-mixed Belgian part of the North Sea Cornelis, I., De Backer, A., Vanhollebeke, J. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Effects of habitat factors on the plant diversity on naturally-restored wind farm slopes Wang, P., Yu, H., Xiao, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Wozep Ecological Programme: Update Wozep 2023 WOZEP Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Organic matter processing in a [simulated] offshore wind farm ecosystem in current and future climate and aquaculture scenarios Voet, H., Vlaminck, E., van Colen, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions
Minimizing habitat conflicts in meeting net-zero energy targets in the western United States Wu, G., Jones, R., Leslie, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Evidence that offshore wind farms might affect marine sediment quality and microbial communities Wang, T., Ru, X., Deng, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Insights from the management of offshore energy resources: Toward an ecosystem-services based management approach for deep-ocean industries Bravo, M., Brandt, M., van der Grient, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Social & Economic Data
Wind energy expansion and birds: Identifying priority areas for impact avoidance at a national level Balotari-Chiebao, F., Santangeli, A., Piirainen, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes
Bilan environnemental de la phase de pré-construction du parc éolien en mer de Saint-Brieuc Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data

Displaying 81 - 120 of 512 results