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
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 Offshore Wind Ecological Programme (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
Monitoring of the nature enhancement project in offshore wind farm Borssele III/IV, T-1 2021 Schellekens, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Morphology, Sediment Microbial Analysis, and Species Distribution Modeling of a New Offshore Population of Ghost Shrimp (Neotrypaea sp.) Hardisty, S. Thesis Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Offshore wind farms are projected to impact primary production and bottom water deoxygenation in the North Sea Daewel, U., Akhtar, N., Christiensen, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Unstated impacts of the green energy industry on the habitat of a coastal delphinid: Turbid-turbulent wakes induced by offshore wind turbine foundations Huang, S-L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment
Evidence for the effects of decommissioning man-made structures on marine ecosystems globally: a systematic map Lemasson, A., Somerfield, P., Schratzberger, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Mapping potential environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy Galparsoro, I., Menchaca, I., Seeger, I. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Windfarms, fishing and benthic recovery: Overlaps, risks and opportunities Dunkley, F., Solandt, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes Ellis, K., Pearse, A., Brandt, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Reviewing the ecological impacts of offshore wind farms Galparsoro, I., Menchaca, I., Garmendia, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Benchmarking Marine Energy Technologies Through LCA: Offshore Floating Wind Farms in the Mediterranean Pulselli, R., Maccanti, M., Bruno, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore wind farms – modelling tools for nature inclusive design in a dynamic sand wave area van Duren, L., Raaijmakers, T., Emmanouil, A. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
An ecosystem-based natural capital evaluation framework that combines environmental and socio-economic implications of offshore renewable energy developments Trifonova, N., Scott, B., Griffin, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Effect of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines on Atmospheric Circulation in California Raghukumar, K., Chartrand, C., Chang, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Environmental Impact of Solar and Wind energy- A Review Hamed, T., Alshare, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Essential Environmental Concepts for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in Europe Stephenson, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Small suspension-feeding amphipods play a pivotal role in carbon dynamics around offshore man-made structures Mavraki, N., Coolen, J., Kapasakali, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Annual environmental report 2021 – Belwind Belwind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Humboldt Wind Energy Area, California Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), BOEM Environmental Studies Program Report Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Data Catalog for the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Johnson, C., Currier, C., Howar, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles
Displaying 81 - 120 of 489 results