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: 493

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Genetic Approaches to the Conservation of Migratory Bats: A Study of the Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) Vonhof, M., Russell, A. Journal Article Bats, Ecosystem Processes
Practical Management of Cumulative Anthropogenic Impacts with Working Marine Examples Wright, A., Kyhn, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Noise Ecosystem Processes
The Impact of Debris on Marine Life Gall, S., Thompson, R. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Eelgrass, Zostera marina, as essential fish habitat for young-of-the-year winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum, 1792) in Maine estuaries Lazzari, M. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish
Optimising Array Form for Energy Extraction and Environmental Benefit (EBAO) Smith, H. Report Marine Energy Noise Ecosystem Processes
A bat fatality risk model at wind farms in Dobrogea, Romania, using a GIS approach Măntoiu, D., Chisamera, G., Chachula, O. Presentation Wind Energy Bats, Ecosystem Processes
Embracing Thresholds for Better Environmental Management Kelly, R., Erickson, A., Mease, L. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Loch Linnhe and Firth of Lorn MASTS Case Study Workshop Report Berx, B., Gallego, A., Heath, M. Report Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
Using Environmental Impact Assessment and Post-Construction Monitoring Data to Inform Wind Energy Developments Zwart, M., Robson, P., Rankin, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Are We Missing the Boat? Current Uses of Long-Term Biological Monitoring Data in the Evaluation and Management of Marine Protected Areas Addison, P., Flander, L., Cook, C. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Marine Defaunation: Animal Loss in the Global Ocean McCauley, D., Pinsky, M., Palumbi, S. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Renewables-To-Reefs? Decommissioning Options for the Offshore Wind Power Industry Smyth, K., Christie, N., Burdon, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Variability in the Florida Current: Implications for Power Generation Hanson, H., Smentek-Duerr, A., VanZwieten Jr., J. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Wind Farms and Biodiversity: Improving Environmental Risk Assessments Boothroyd, I., Barea, L. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Special Issue: Renewable Ocean Energy Development and the Environment Zydlewski, G., Copping, A., Redden, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Offshore Wind Farms in the Southwestern Baltic Sea: A Model Study of Regional Impacts on Oxygen Conditions Janßen, H., Schröder, T., Zettler, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Planning for Net Biodiversity Gains: A Case Study of Hau_uru m_ raki Wind Farm, New Zealand Craig, J., Kessels, G., Langlands, P. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Multiple Stressors and Multifunctionality: Limited Effects on an Illuminated Benthic System Alsterberg, C., Sundbäck, K., Gamfeldt, L. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
The Influence of Large Offshore Wind Farms on the North Sea and Baltic Sea - A Comprehensive Literature Review Clark, S., Schroeder, F., Baschek, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Regime Shifts in Exploited Marine Food Webs: Detecting Mechanisms Underlying Alternative Stable States using Size-Structured Community Dynamics Theory Gårdmark, A., Casini, M., Huss, M. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Eco-Maintenance for Complex Systems: Application on System of Renewable Energy Production Tchertchian, N., Millet, D. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Oil Platforms off California are Among the Most Productive Marine Fish Habitats Globally Claisse, J., Pondella, D., Love, M. Journal Article Habitat Change Pelagic Fish, Fish, Ecosystem Processes, Demersal Fish
Assessing Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms: Lessons Learned and Recommendations for the Future Bailey, H., Brookes, K., Thompson, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Marine Mammals, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Assessing the potential of autonomous submarine gliders for ecosystem monitoring across multiple trophic levels (plankton to cetaceans) and pollutants in shallow shelf seas Suberg, L., Wynn, R., van der Kooij, J. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals
Biodiversity Offsets for Offshore Wind Farm Projects: The Current Situation in Europe Vaissière, A., Levrel, H., Pioch, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Predicting the Large-Scale Consequences of Offshore Wind Turbine Array Development on a North Sea Ecosystem van der Molen, J., Smith, H., Lepper, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Ecosystem Processes
Spatial and Temporal Benthic Species Assemblage Responses with a Deployed Marine Tidal Energy Device: A Small Scaled Study Broadhurst, M., Orme, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Marine Mammals Trace Anthropogenic Structures at Sea Russell, D., Brasseur, S., Thompson, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals, Ecosystem Processes
Assessing the Vulnerability of the Marine Bird Community in the Western North Sea to Climate Change and Other Anthropogenic Impacts Burthe, S., Wanless, S., Newell, M. Journal Article Marine Energy Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes
A Comparison of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches to Benthic Habitat Mapping to Inform Offshore Wind Energy Development LaFrance, M., King, J., Oakley, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Similar Diversity-Disturbance Responses to Different Physical Impacts: Three Cases of Small-Scale Biodiversity Increase in the Belgian Part of the North Sea De Backer, A., Van Hoey, G., Coates, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
A Sustainability Index of Potential Co-Location of Offshore Wind Farms and Open Water Aquaculture Benassai, G., Mariani, P., Stenberg, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
A Review of the Potential Impacts of Wave and Tidal Energy Development on Scotland's Marine Environment Aquatera Report Wave, Tidal, Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
EcoSpatial Information Database: U.S. Atlantic Region Madsen, K., Zimmer, B., Fritze, B. Report Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Assessing Marine Ecosystem Acoustic Diversity Across Ocean Basins Parks, S., Miksis-Olds, J., Denes, S. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
What's Next and Why? A Look Ahead at Strategic Ecological Research Direction Scott, B. Presentation Ecosystem Processes
California Current Cetacean & Ecosystem Assessment Survey (CalCurCEAS): Final Report to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regarding Surveys of Windfloat and Wave Energy Areas Barlow, J., Henry, A., Ballance, L. Report Wind Energy, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Marine Mammals, Ecosystem Processes, Cetaceans
Scaling of Spatial and Temporal Biological Variability at Marine Renewable Energy Sites Jacques, D., Horne, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Pelagic Fish
First Interim Report of the Working Group on Marine Renewable Energy (WGMRE) International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Ecosystem Processes
Review of Environmental Data Associated with Post-Consent Monitoring of Licence Conditions of Offshore Wind Farms Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Displaying 321 - 360 of 493 results