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
Structure-Forming Corals and Sponges and Their Use as Fish Habitat in Bering Sea Submarine Canyons Miller, R., Hocevar, J., Stone, R. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Changing Coasts: Marine Aliens and Artificial Structures Mineur, F., Cook, E., Minchin, D. Book Chapter Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems Doney, S., Ruckelshaus, M., Duffy, J. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
HYWIND Acoustic Measurement Report: Ambient Levels and HYWIND Signature Martin, B., MacDonnell, J., Vallarta, J. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Noise Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Greening the Wind: Environmental and Social Considerations for Wind Power Development Ledec, G., Rapp, K., Aiello, R. Book Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes, Birds, Bats
South Korea's Plans for Tidal Power: When a "Green" Solution Creates More Problems Ko, Y., Schubert, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Social & Economic Data
Effects of wind farms and food scarcity on a large scavenging bird species following an epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy Martinez-Abrain, A., Tavecchia, G., Regan, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
State of the Science: An Assessment of Research on the Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy in the Great Lakes Region Hinderer, J., Pebbles, V., Pearson, B. Workshop Article Wind Energy Ecosystem Processes
Physical and Biological Modeling of a 100 Megawatt Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Discharge Plume Rocheleau, G., Grandelli, P. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
The Multi-Use In Wind Farm Projects: More Conflicts Or A Win-Win Opportunity? Lacroix, D., Sylvain, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Ecosystem Processes
Effects of the Construction of Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm on the Prey Base of Little Tern Sternula albifons at its Most Important UK Colony Perrow, M., Gilroy, J., Skeate, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish
A High Resolution Hydrodynamic Model of Puget Sound to Support Nearshore Restoration Feasibility Analysis and Design Khangaonkar, T., Yang, Z. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
State of the Washington Coast: Ecology, Management, and Research Priorities Skewgar, E., Dethier, M., Pearson, S. Report Marine Energy Chemicals Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
Applying Ecological Risk Assessment Methodology for Outlining Ecosystem Effects of Ocean Energy Technologies Hammar, L., Gullström, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
An Assessment of the Conservation Importance of Species and Habitats Identified During a Series of Recent Research Cruises around Scotland Moore, C., Roberts, J. Report Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States: Assessment of Opportunities and Barriers Musial, M., Ram, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Updated Summary of Knowledge: Selected Areas of the Pacific Coast Kaplan, B., Beegle-Krause, C., McCay, D. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
The Application Of Observing System Data In California Current Ecosystem Assessments Brown, J., Pavia, R., King, C. Report Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Predicting the trends of vertebrate species richness as a response to wind farms installation in mountain ecosystems of northwest Portugal Santos, M., Bastos, R., Travassos, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Equal Value: Can a major Severn Tidal Power scheme be compatible with enhancing the Natura 2000 Biodiversity Network? Sustainable Development Commission Report Marine Energy, Tidal Ecosystem Processes
The Effects of Landscape Modifications on the Long-Term Persistence of Animal Populations Nabe-Nielsen, J., Sibly, R., Forchhammer, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Ecosystem Based Modeling and Indication of Ecological Integrity in the German North Sea - Case Study Offshore Wind Parks Burkhard, B., Opitz, S., Lenhart, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Benthic Cover Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Website Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Introduction: offshore wind energy development in the Belgian part of the North Sea & anticipated impacts Brabant, R., Jacques, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Stakeholder Engagement
Development of Underwater Flora and Fauna Communities on Hard Substrates of the Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee Lengkeek, W., Bouma, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Lynn and Inner Dowsing Hydrographic Monitoring Survey Fugro EMU Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Marine Renewable Energy: Potential Benefits to Biodiversity? An Urgent Call for Research Inger, R., Attrill, M., Bearhop, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Environmental Assessment of Offshore Wind Power Generation near Rhode Island: Acoustic and Electromagnetic Effects on Marine Animals Miller, J., Potty, G., Raposa, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Energy Sprawl or Energy Efficiency: Climate Policy Impacts on Natural Habitat for the United States of America McDonald, R., Fargione, J., Kiesecker, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Spatial and Seasonal Relationships Between Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) and their Prey, at Multiple Scales Grigg, E., Klimley, A., Allen, S. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
A Protocol for Classifying Ecologically Relevant Marine Zones, A Statistical Approach Verfaillie, E., Degraer, S., Schelfaut, K. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Offshore and Coastal Renewable Energy: Potential Ecological Benefits and Impacts of Large-scale Offshore and Coastal Renewable Energy Projects Linley, A., Laffont, K., Wilson, B. Report Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Understanding and Managing Human Threats to the Coastal Marine Environment Crain, C., Halpern, B., Beck, M. Journal Article Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Positive Planning for Onshore Wind Expanding Onshore Wind Energy Capacity while Conserving Nature Bowyer, C., Baldock, D., Tucker, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Ecosystem Processes
Integrated Ecosystem Assessments: Developing the Scientific Basis for Ecosystem-Based Management of the Ocean Levin, P., Fogarty, M., Murawski, S. Journal Article Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes
Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Lorraine, R., Tremlett, C. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: State of the Art After Two Years of Environmental Monitoring Degraer, S., Brabant, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Early colonisation of a concrete offshore windmill foundation by marine biofouling on the Thornton Bank (southern North Sea) Kerckhof, F., Norro, A., Jacques, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
The use of 'ecological risk' for assessing effects of human activities: an example including eutrophication and offshore wind farm construction in the North Sea Nunneri, C., Lenhart, H., Burkhard, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Fouling Assemblages on Offshore Wind Power Plants and Adjacent Substrata Wilhelmsson, D., Malm, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
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