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: 1507

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
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
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
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
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 Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality
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
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
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
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
Marine Renewable Energy: An Introduction to Environmental Effects OES-Environmental Summary Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Exploratory Cross-Scale Characterization of Oceanographic Data Surrounding Offshore Wind Areas Noor, N. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Patterns in lek persistence and attendance by lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) near a wind energy facility in southern Kansas LeBeau, C., Sattler, R., Ebenhoch, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Biodiversity Information of benthic Species at ARtificial structures - BISAR Dannheim, J., Kloss, P., Vanaverbeke, J. Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Offshore wind FAQs Australian Marine Conservation Society Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Tidal Stream Energy Project: Collision Risk Data and Evidence Summary Phillips, E., Wren, S., King, G. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Avoidance, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Offshore wind development: library of strategic compensatory measures Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Webpage Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Sustainability Assessment of an Oscillating Water Column During the Design, Installation, Operation, and Disassembly Phases Gallego-Ramírez, C., López-Mosquera, J., Chica, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Vulnerability and behavioural avoidance of Golden Eagles near wind farms during the breeding season Maynard, L., Lemaître, J., Therrien, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Offshore Wind Impact on Oceanographic Processes: North Carolina to New York - DHI Johnson, T., Simpson, E., Bell, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
This is EPIC: Extensive Periphery for Impact and Control to study seabird habitat loss in and around offshore wind farms combining a peripheral control area and Bayesian statistics Grundlehner, A., Leopold, M., Kersten, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
ScotMER 7th Symposium 2025: Physical Processes Marine Scotland Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality
ScotMER 7th Symposium 2025: EcoWind Marine Scotland Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
ScotMER 7th Symposium 2025: Benthic Ecology Marine Scotland Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
Outlook on the development of eco-friendly offshore renewable energy technologies Sun, P., Jiang, Z., Chen, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Setting a course for research on offshore wind development impacts near Nantucket Shoals Gawarkiewicz, G. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Impact of offshore wind farms on the fauna of the Baltic Sea Cieślewicz, N., Pilarski, K., Pilarska, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Displaying 41 - 80 of 1507 results