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 Related to Ecosystem Processes

Total results: 445
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
A Review of the Impacts of Onshore Wind Energy Development on Biodiversity Tosh, D., Montgomery, W., Reid, N. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Understanding the potential effects of wave energy devices on kelp biotopes Macleod, A., Orr, K., Greenhill, L. Report Wave Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Offshore Marine Renewable Energy Devices as Stepping Stones Across Biogeographical Boundaries Adams, T., Miller, R., Aleynik, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Describing and Comparing Variability of Fish and Macrozooplankton Density at Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Sites Jacques, D. Thesis Marine Energy Fish, Ecosystem Processes
Identifying ecological thresholds for regulating human activity: Effective conservation or wishful thinking? Johnson, C. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Estimating Effects of Tidal Power Projects and Climate Change on Threatened and Endangered Marine Species and Their Food Web Busch, S., Greene, C., Good, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Comparing the Ecological Impacts of Wind and Oil and Gas Development: A Landscape Scale Assessment Jones, N., Pejchar, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Examining potential effects of marine renewable energy developments on top predators Philpott, E. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Cetaceans, Physical Environment
Potential Environmental Consequences of Enhanced Ocean Upwelling Karl, D., Böttjer, D., Clemente, T. Presentation Marine Energy, OTEC Ecosystem Processes
Observing Ocean Changes at the Nation's First SWAC System Comfort, C., Ostrander, C., McManus, M. Presentation Marine Energy, OTEC Ecosystem Processes
Benthic Community and Biological Trait Composition in Respect to Artificial Coastal Defence Structures: A Study Case in the Northern Adriatic Sea Munari, C. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates, Ecosystem Processes
Challenges and opportunities for animal conservation from renewable energy development Katzner, T., Johnson, J., Evans, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision Ecosystem Processes
Impacts of OWF installations on fisheries: A Literature Review Bat, L., Sezgin, M., Sahin, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy
Tidal barrages in the UK: Ecological and social impacts, potential mitigation, and tools to support barrage planning Hooper, T., Austen, M. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Collision Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Assessment of Zooplankton Injury and Mortality Associated With Underwater Turbines for Tidal Energy Production Schlezinger, D., Taylor, C., Howes, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision Ecosystem Processes
Managing for Interactions between Local and Global Stressors of Ecosystems Brown, C., Saunders, M., Possingham, H. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Marine Renewable Energies: Perspectives and Implications for Marine Ecosystems Azzellino, A., Conley, D., Vicinanza, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Potential Impacts of Ocean Acidification on the Puget Sound Food Web Busch, D., Harvey, C., McElhany, P. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
EPRI Workshop on EMF and Aquatic Life Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Workshop Article Marine Energy EMF Ecosystem Processes
Modelling Potential Changes in Marine Biogeochemistry due to Large-Scale Offshore Wind Farms van der Molen, J., Rees, J., Limpenny, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Habitat Engineering by Decadal-Scale Bioturbation around Shipwrecks on the Great Barrier Reef Mid-Shelf Stieglitz, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Energy: Understanding Impacts on Great Lakes Fishery and Other Aquatic Resources GLWC, GLC Workshop Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Environmental and Human Dimensions of Ocean Renewable Energy Development Henkel, S., Conway, F., Boehlert, G. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Effects of Offshore Windfarms on Marine Wildlife - A Synthesis for Swedish Waters Bergström, L., Kautsky, L., Malm, T. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Experimental Study of Scour around Support Structures of Model Marine Hydrokinetic Devices Volpe, M. Thesis Marine Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
A Framework for Understanding Cumulative Impacts, Supporting Environmental Decisions, and Informing Resilience-Based Management of The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area Anthony, K., Dambacher, J., Walshe, T. Report Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
The Ecology of Marine Tidal Race Environments and the Impact of Tidal Energy Development Broadhurst, M. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Artificial Reef Effect in Relation to Offshore Renewable Energy Conversion: State of the Art Langhamer, O. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Geophysical Surveys of the Wave Energy Test Site at MCBH, Kāneohe: Diver Surveys Site 2 Sea Engineering Inc Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Representing the Acquisition and Use of Energy by Individuals in Agent-Based Models of Animal Populations Sibly, R., Grimm, V., Martin, B. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Bird-Community Shifts in Relation to Wind Farms: A Case Study Comparing a Wind Farm, Croplands, and Secondary Forests in Southern Mexico Villegas-Patraca, R., Macgregor-Fors, I., Ortiz-Martinez, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Disruption to Benthic Habitats by Moorings of Wave Energy Installations: A Modelling Case Study and Implications for Overall Ecosystem Functioning Krivtsov, V., Linfoot, B. Journal Article Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment, Ecosystem Processes
Offshore Wind Farms, New Players in Marine Ecosystems Lindeboom, H. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Hornsea Project 2 Environmental Impact Assessment SMart Wind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Modeling the Physical and Biochemical Influence of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant Grandelli, P., Rocheleau, G., Hamrick, J. Report Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Singapore Strait Hydrodynamics: From Ancient Myths to Renewable Energy Behera, M., Haihua, X., Tkalich, P. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
First Specific Biodiversity Assessment in the Portuguese Pilot Zone for Marine Renewables Coelho, H., Rodrigues, S., Ferriera, R. Conference Paper Marine Energy Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Annual environmental report 2011 – Belwind phase 1 Belwind Report Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Power Reef Effects and Reef Fauna Roles Krone, R. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Ocean Acidification-Induced Food Quality Deterioration Constrains Trophic Transfer Rossoll, D., Bermúdez, R., Hauss, H. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Displaying 321 - 360 of 445 results