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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: 529

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Bayesian network modelling provides spatial and temporal understanding of ecosystem dynamics within shallow shelf seas Trifonova, N., Scott, B., De Dominicis, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Environmental Impact Assessment: Nuyakuk River Small Scale Hydroelectric Project Squire, R., Owen, A., Ngo-Ly, J. Report Marine Energy, Riverine Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Recreation & Tourism, Visual Impacts
Design, production, and validation of the biological and structural performance of an ecologically engineered concrete block mattress: A Nature-Inclusive Design for shoreline and offshore construction Sella, I., Hadary, T., Rella, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
The Design, Production and Validation of the Biological and Structural Performance of an Ecologically Engineered Concrete Block Mattress – A Nature Inclusive Design for Shoreline and Offshore construction Sella, I., Hadary, T., Rella, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Communicating climate change in marine renewable energy Trueworthy, A., DuPont, B. Conference Paper Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
European Scalable Offshore Renewable Energy Source (EU-SCORES) Francisco Correia da Fonseca Research Study Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
From Project Impacts to Strategic Decisions: Recurring Issues and Concerns in Wind Energy Environmental Assessments Dutta, N., Noble, B., Poelzer, G. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Research on the environmental impact of tidal power generation in China Ma, Z., Li, B., Liu, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Techno-Economic Assessment of Offshore Wind Energy in the Philippines Maandal, G., Tamayao-Kieke, M., Danao, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Modeling Small Scale Impacts of Multi-Purpose Platforms: An Ecosystem Approach Serpetti, N., Benjamins, S., Brain, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Atlantic deepwater ecosystem observatory network: Patterns of acoustic backscatter and community structure of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Miksis-Olds, J., Warren, J., Blair, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
Renewable energy production in a Mexican biosphere reserve: Assessing the potential using a multidisciplinary approach Wojtarowski, A., Martinez, M., Silva, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Salinity Gradient Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Assessing the effect of wind farms in fauna with a mathematical model Roman, P., Salinas, C., Araujo, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Installation of live flat oysters and monitoring benthic biodiversity in OWF Borssele III/IV; T-0 2020 Schellekens, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Working Group on Marine Benthal and Renewable Energy Developments (WGMBRED) ICES Working Group on Marine Renewable Energy (WGMRE) Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Offshore Windfarm Footprint of Sediment Organic Matter Mineralization Processes De Borger, E., Ivanov, E., Capet, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Invertebrates
The Impact of Offshore Wind Farms on Sea State Demonstrated by Airborne LiDAR Measurements Bärfuss, K., Schulz-Stellenfleth, J., Lampert, A. Journal Article Wind Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Environmental Assessment of the Impacts and Benefits of a Salinity Gradient Energy Pilot Plant Marin-Coria, E., Silva, R., Enriquez, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Salinity Gradient Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Detection-reaction systems in onshore windfarms, a mitigation solution to reduce bird fatalities: Principles for a relevant assessment of their performances Corbeau, A., Dupont, S., Besnard, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes
What international framework to support the sustainable exploitation of marine energy and mineral resources? Willemez, A. Book Chapter Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Réalisation de l'état de référence de la ressource halieutique du projet éolien en mer de la baie de Saint-Brieuc et son raccordement – Rapport intermédiaire, année 2: Campagne halieutique de référence 2019-2020 Chassaing, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Oregon Offshore Wind Energy Mapping Tool (OROWindMap) Introductory Webinar Hauer, W., Pendleton, F., Lanier, A. Presentation Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The Conservational State of Coastal Ecosystems on the Mexican Caribbean Coast: Environmental Guidelines for Their Management Guimarais, M., Zuniga-Rios, A., Cruz-Ramirez, C. Journal Article Chemicals Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Ecological impact due to extraction of energy from estuaries Haddout, S., Priya, K., Hoguane, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Salinity Gradient Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
A new hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach for location selection of sustainable offshore wind energy stations: A case study Abdel-Basset, M., Gamal, A., Chakrabortty, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Field report installation test reef and research into reef conditions Gemini OWF Snoek, R., Kardinaal, E., Kamermans, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Integrated Offshore Seismic Survey Using an Unmanned Wave Glider Cheong, S., Kim, Y-J., Chung, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
Manufacturing and Recycling Impact on Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Innovative Wind Power Plant Part 2/2 Bałdowska-Witos, P., Doerffer, K., Pysz, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Wind Energy Technologies Office Multi-Year Program Plan Fiscal Years 2021—2025 Marlay, R., Ahlgrimm, J., Clapper, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Potential impacts of submarine power cables from marine renewable energy projects on benthic communities Taormina, B. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Offshore Wind Farm Artificial Reefs Affect Ecosystem Structure and Functioning: A Synthesis Degraer, S., Carey, D., Coolen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Could federal wind farms influence continental shelf oceanography and alter associated ecological processes? A literature review. Miles, T., Murphy, S., Kohut, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Climate change effects on marine renewable energy resources and environmental conditions for offshore aquaculture in Europe Weiss, C., Menendez, M., Ondiviela, B. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Cumulative effects of marine renewable energy and climate change on ecosystem properties: Sensitivity of ecological network analysis Noguès, Q., Raoux, A., Araignous, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions
Acoustic and Benthic Targeted Research Work Groups: Summary of Findings Roberts, J., Peplinski, W., Kramer, S. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
A Review on Environmental and Social Impacts of Thermal Gradient and Tidal Currents Energy Conversion and Application to the Case of Chiapas, Mexico Rivera, G., Felix, A., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Fish assemblages of three common artificial reef designs during early colonization Hylkema, A., Debrot, A., Osinga, R. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World Copping, A., Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Modelling the impact of tidal range energy on species communities Baker, A., Craighead, R., Jarvis, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
The environmental impact from an offshore windfarm: Challenge and evaluation methodology based on an ecosystem approach Pezy, J., Raoux, A., Dauvin, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes

Displaying 161 - 200 of 529 results