TY - THES
TI - Wave Energy and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics
AU - Langhamer, O
AB - A wave energy park has been established on the Swedish west coast outside Lysekil and pioneer work about its interactions with the marine environment has been conducted. So far, little is known about the effects of offshore energy installations on the marine environment, and this thesis assists in minimizing environmental risks as well as in enhancing potential positive effects on the marine environment. The Lysekil research site is situated about two kilometers offshore and has been under development since 2005. During this time 26 "environmental devices", without generators, consisting of a steel buoy attached via a wire to a foundation have been placed out for ecological studies on macrofauna in surrounding sediments and on colonization of the foundations and the buoys. Sediment samples to examine macrofauna in the seabed have been taken during five seasons. Biomass, abundance and diversity of fauna in the test site were generally low, but higher than in a nearby control site. The species composition was typical for the area and depth.In addition to sediment analysis, the effect of wave power concrete foundations on the marine environment has been investigated by scuba diving. The surface orientation and its effect on colonization by sessile organisms was examined on the first five foundations, placed out in 2005, and observations of habitat use by fish and crustaceans were made. The results show a succession of colonization over time (three years of investigation) with a higher cover by sessile organisms on vertical surfaces. Mobile fauna abundance on and around the foundations was generally low.
DA - 2009/01//
PY - 2009
SP - 52
PB - Uppsala University
UR - http://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:228184/FULLTEXT01.pdf
LA - English
M3 - PhD Thesis
KW - Wave
KW - Marine Energy
KW - Habitat Change
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Fish
ER -