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Habitat Change

Underwater tidal turbine
Changes to the physical habitat around the device.

The introduction of wind or marine renewable energy devices to the environment can change the physical habitat. The development of land-based wind farms, for example, typically requires the addition of roads and infrastructure, which can lead to habitat degradation and/or fragmentation. Installation of offshore wind and marine renewable energy devices' associated subsea power cables will likely result in changes to seafloor habitats. The physical presence of one or many devices may cause animals to avoid the area, potentially resulting in loss of foraging, breeding, rearing, or resting habitats. Fish may be attracted to a device to feed on algae or to swim in an eddy, while bats may be attracted to a device to feed on insects that are attracted by the light, both of which may place them at higher risk for collision with dynamic portions of the device. Mooring lines that anchor floating devices to the seafloor could also confuse or entrap large marine animals like whales, causing panic and potential injury or increased predation.

For more information relevant to marine energy, view the Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Short Science Summary produced by OES-Environmental.

For more information relevant to offshore wind energy, view the Introduction of New Structures: Effects on Fish Ecology and Benthic Disturbance from Foundations, Anchors, & Cables research briefs produced by SEER.

Photo Credit: BALAO-SABELLA

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 Habitat Change.

Total: 1594

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Designing wave farms to support mangrove restoration: A coupled hydro-morphodynamic and habitat suitability modelling approach Boodoo, A., Villarroel-Lamb, D., Cross, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Storylines of Nature Inclusive Design in Dutch Offshore Wind Farm decommissioning Boer, F. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Assessing state biodiversity conservation planning and large-scale wind and solar energy development in the United States Condon, D., Bhartia, N., Jordaan, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Climatic Impacts of Large-Scale Wind Farms in Arid and Semi-Arid Region in China: A Case Study of the Huitengxile Wind Farm in Inner Mongolia Su, X., Yu, E., Liu, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment
A computer vision-based approach to monitor changes in ecosystems associated with marine renewable energy projects Alamillo-Paredes, A., Lagunes-Díaz, E., Pérez-Maqueo O. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish
Identifying causes and consequences of ecosystem decline in the Irish Sea through bow-tie analysis Kolbuk, D., Bremner, J., Cahillane, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Environment Impacts of Nearshore Marine Renewable Energy Chen, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity and distance to settlements in the spatial allocation of wind power Luukkonen, S., Räsänen, A., Koivula, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Onshore Wind Energy Development Causes Localized but Lasting Shifts in Plant Community Composition and Function Seifert, L., Sivertsen, K., Rugstad, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Impacts of Floating Offshore Wind: Planning for a Sustainable Source of Energy Teixeira, R., Argyri, A., Efthimiou, L. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Research Progress on the Impact of Wind Farms on Climate and Ecology Zhang, P., Gao, X., Han, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Turbulence drives seabed modification by offshore windfarms Unsworth, C., McCarron, C., Whitehouse, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Background Document on Nature-Friendly Decommissioning of Offshore Energy Infrastructure Jørgensen, A-M., Somers, P., Elsman, V. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Nature‑Friendly Decommissioning of Offshore Energy Infrastructure: What happens to North Sea marine life? Stichting De Noordzee Webpage Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
DiverLog: Effects of Offshore Wind Farms on the Behaviour, Energetics and Habitat Use of Red-throated Divers Burger, C., Salazar, S., Liedtke, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Integrating biodiversity conservation into renewable energy development under the European Green Deal: A comparative analysis of national policies in France, Italy and Spain Hajdukovic, I., Jessel, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Wind energy infrastructures drive habitat loss and fragmentation for threatened Orthoptera: spatial planning needed in developed landscapes Stefanidis, A., Kati, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Land-Based Wind Energy Stimuli and Wildlife Sensory Environments Dempsey, L., Clerc, J., ECO Wind Summary Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise
Progressing Tidal Energy Through Organized Data Approaches Copping, A., Hemery, L., Garavelli, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Review of Impacts of Geophysical and Geotechnical Surveys on Marine Fish and Shellfish in Irish Waters Long, A., Rickard, E., Holding, P. Report Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Evaluating environmental impacts and public preferences in offshore wind farm decommissioning Stranddorf, L., Ladenburg, J., Rönnblom, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Habitat use of Bechstein´s bats (Myotis bechsteinii) within wind parks in forests Hurst, J., Korner-Nievergelt, F., Brinkmann, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change, Noise Bats
Effects of Onshore Wind Energy on Semi-Domesticated Reindeer WREN, Thant, Z., May, R. Summary Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change, Noise Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Offshore Energy and Environmental Research Ryu, S., Dempsey, L., Ampela, K. Summary Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions
A Structured Techno-Economic and Socio-Regulatory Comparison of Onshore, Fixed-Bottom Offshore, and Floating Offshore Wind Energy Systems Koondhar, M. A., Afridi, S. K., Alsenani, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Beyond Local Footprints: Disentangling Large-­Scale Redistribution and Local Abundance Responses to Offshore Wind Farms Mercker, M., Garthe, S., Peschko, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
DMEC Deep Dive: Environmental Monitoring Highlights Dutch Marine Energy Centre Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
From sea basins to projects: Process harmonization for better environmental monitoring Offshore Coalition For Energy & Nature (OCEaN) Guidance Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Mapping avian sensitivity to support onshore wind energy development and bird conservation in two European countries Biasotto, L., Serratosa, J., Clark, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
The development of wind power leads to a decline in bird species richness Dang, D., Li, X., Lyu, X. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds
Fish and Fisheries Offshore Wind Research Gaps Analysis Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Social & Economic Data
Governing biodiversity through offshore wind park tenders: A comparison of England and the Netherlands Kristensen, S., Pauwelussen, A., Bush, S. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change
Conservation potential of offshore windfarms for epibenthic invertebrates and fish communities in a heavily used regional sea Probst, W., Rehren, J., Kraan, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Multi-criteria evaluation of marine renewable energy sources using TOPSIS for coastal pollution mitigation and sustainable development Teng, M., Zhi, G., Tolba, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Ecological impacts of offshore wind power construction and operation on zooplankton communities in South China sea Peng, Z., Lu, M., Huang, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Invertebrates
Spatio-temporal dynamics of fish assemblages at an offshore wind farm and a comparison with mature artificial reefs Shao, K., Chang, C., Chen, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Changes in the distribution and abundance of common scoter and diver species in the Horns Rev I, II and III offshore windfarm areas, Denmark, 2025: Bird distribution responses to wind farms, Horns Rev Scott-Hayward, L., Petersen, I.K., Mackenzie, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Mapping benthic biodiversity to facilitate future sustainable development Cooper, K., Thompson, M., Bolam, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Policy brief for biodiversity enhancement and restoration on onshore windfarms in Ireland Ruth, B., King, E., Stout, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Site selection for onshore wind energy in Iceland using GIS-based mapping Cook, D., Petursson, J.G., Hrabalikova, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts

Displaying 1 - 40 of 1594 results