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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: 1616

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
Balancing energy and ecology: Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms and mitigation strategies – A scientometric review Das, P., Biswas, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
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
A Global LCIA Framework for Quantifying Seabed Damage from Bottom Trawling, Dredging, and Benthic Structures Anderson, S., Tveit, S., Stadler, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
System interactions constraining offshore wind deployment in the Dutch North Sea Wakounig, I., Gooyert, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
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
Toward process-based causality indicators for assessing and monitoring ecological impacts of offshore wind energy: a benthic perspective Laurino, I.R.A., Alves Silva, A.T., Olian, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
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
Modeling Monopile Scour in a Tidal-Dominated Coastal Sea: a GFD-CFD coupled framework and real-world application Pang, J., Zhou, Z., Wei, X. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
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
Offshore Renewable Energy Expansion, Marine Biodiversity Risk, and the Effectiveness of Marine Spatial Planning in Taiwan: A Spatial–Governance Assessment Hu, C., Lin, J., Shih, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
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
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
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
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
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
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

Displaying 1 - 40 of 1616 results