Habitat Change

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: 1533

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
ORJIP BenCH: Benthic habitat changes postconstruction of offshore wind (Final report) Hubble, M., O'Brien, N., Villanueva-Brackley, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Future cumulative effects on demersal fish in a transforming North Sea pressure landscape Rehren, J., Kruse, M., Probst, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Demersal Fish
Assessing, monitoring and mitigating the effects of offshore wind farms on biodiversity Watson, S., Szostek, C., Edwards-Jones, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
An ecological risk assessment for the impacts of offshore wind farms on sharks and rays in Australia Werry, J., Meager, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Offshore wave energy converter array poses threat to coasts causing significant rip currents Cao, X., Shi, J., Zheng, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Spatio-temporal evolution and engineering implications of biofouling communities on floating wind turbines mooring lines Dubois, A., Schoefs, F., Cognie, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Addressing Place-Based Environmental Questions to Enable Marine Energy Deployments Hemery, L., Copping, A., Jones, K. Presentation Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Entanglement, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
The impact of offshore wind turbine foundations on local hydrodynamics and stratification in the Southern North Sea Hendriks, E., Langedock, K., van Duren, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Green energy's sweet surprise: unraveling the hidden links between wind farms and honey production Yıldız, M., Bilgic, A., Demir, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions
Strategic Compensation Studies: Efficacy of predator reduction measures – a literature review Tarbet, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Terrestrial Mammals
Sea Space Analysis for Wave and Tidal Energy Lee, S., Strong, V., Anning, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Marine Mammal Monitoring: Methods, Technologies, and Opportunities for Innovation Dorrian, N., Ferguson, E., Scala, L. Report Wind Energy Avoidance, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Marine Mammals
Benefits and impacts of offshore wind farms on benthic marine biodiversity in a life cycle assessment context Stranddorf, L., Verones, F., Olsen, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Evaluation of macro and meiobenthic community structure and distribution in the hybrid ocean thermal energy conversion discharge area of Port Dickson Leng, Q., Mohamat-Yusuff, F., Mohamed, K.N. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Modeling consequences of spatial closures for offshore energy: Loss of fishing grounds and fishery-independent data Campbell, M., Samhouri, J., White, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Wind farms through the lens of sustainability and circularity: Integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions Arias, A., Moreira, M., Feijoo, G. Journal Article Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Integrating Biodiversity Impacts into Life Cycle Assessment: Applied to a case study of onshore wind power production Demyanenko, S. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Strategic Compensation Studies: Overview of Red-throated Diver Compensation Measures and Opportunities for Improving Ecological Outcomes Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Navigation
Economic Viability and Environmental Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies: A Comparative Framework for Tidal Stream Energy and Offshore Wind Power in the United States Bajaj, A. Journal Article Tidal, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Passerines, Fish, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Navigation, Social & Economic Data
Preventing scour at offshore monopile foundation using artificial reefs: Hydrodynamic processes and scour reduction Gao, Y., Chen, J., Lei, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Partial Niche Partitioning in Three Sympatric Gull Species Through Foraging Areas and Habitat Selection O'Hanlon, N., Clewley, G., Johnston, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Environmental impact evaluation of an oscillating water column Rubio-Clemente, A., Gallego-Ramírez, C., Chica, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Vibrations from Wind Turbines Increased Self-Pollination of Native Forbs, and White Bases Attracted Pollinators: Evidence Along a 28 km Gradient in a Natural Area Tronstad, L., Weschler, M., Storey, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Expected occurrence of wildlife in US Atlantic offshore wind areas Brill, D., Cleary, J., Roberts, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Investigating Interactions Between Fish and Offshore Wind Farms Using Acoustic Telemetry Couturier, L., Taormina, B., Labourgade, P. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Analysing hammer impact duration on driveability resistance through instrumented field tests Moghadam, S., Duffy, K., Flessati, L. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise
The contribution of the SafeWAVE EU project to the future development of ocean energy Bald, J., Galparsoro, I., Mandiola, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Fact Sheet on the Conservation of Migratory Bats - A Global Issue Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Guidance Habitat Change Bats
Towards Nature Positive for the Ocean: Pathways for Corporate Contributions Carrow, A., Lynch, L., Kroner, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York, Volume 1 - RPS Georgas, N., Garavelli, L., Codiga, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The impacts of human-made structures on larval connectivity in the northern North Sea Barton, B., De Dominicis, M., Woolf, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Metagenomic biodiversity assessment within an offshore wind farm Serivichyaswat, P., Scholte, T., Wilms, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
South Fork Wind Benthic Monitoring Program: Sediment Profile and Plan View Imaging (SPI/PV), ROV-based Sampling, and Sediment Grab Sampling INSPIRE Environmental Webpage Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Reindeer husbandry challenges in winter in a wind power plant area- a study from an island in Troms county Odmann, A. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Frequently Asked Questions: Offshore Wind and Whales Whale Communications Committee Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Effects and management implications of emerging marine renewable energy technologies Copping, A., Wood, D., Rumes, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Salinity Gradient Chemicals, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Science priorities to evaluate the effects of offshore wind energy development on fish and fisheries in the Gulf of America Sura, S. , Czaja, R., Brugnone,N. Journal Article Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Recreation & Tourism
Offshore wind farms modify coastal food web dynamics by enhancing suspension feeder pathways De Borger, E., Van Oevelen, D., Mavraki, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Habitat Change Evidence Base OES-Environmental Summary Marine Energy Habitat Change
Stressor-Specific Guidance Document: Changes in Habitat OES-Environmental Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Displaying 41 - 80 of 1533 results