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
Perception of Environmental Impacts of Wind Farms in Agricultural Areas of Northeast Brazil Sobrinho Junior, M., Hernandez, M., Amora, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
SafeWave DELIVERABLE 2.7 Guidelines on EMF, noise, and seabed integrity monitoring planning for wave energy devices Bald, J., Vinagre, P., Chainho, P. Report Marine Energy, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals Hemery, L., Copping, A., Overhus, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind COP Appendix II-H: Benthic Monitoring Plan Morandi, A., Berkman, S., Zottoli, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance Research Priorities 2022 Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) Guidance Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Response of Ferruginous Hawks to temporary habitat alterations for energy development in southwestern Alberta Parayko, N., Ng, J., Marley, J. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Attraction, avoidance and habitat use at various spatial scales Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Advice on future assessment of ecosystem effects from offshore wind farms van Duren, L. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Wozep midterm evaluation 2021 Odinga, J., Barbé, D., van Mastrigt, A. Report Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Short Science Summary: Offshore Wind Farms as Stepping Stones for Non-indigenous Species WREN, Rumes, B., Kerckhof, F. Summary Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Cost Efficiency of Environmental DNA as Compared to Conventional Methods for Biodiversity Monitoring Purposes at Marine Energy Sites Fu, M., Hemery, L., Sather, N. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
An indicator for assessing the status of marine-bird habitats affected by multiple human activities: A novel statistical approach Mercker, M., Dierschke, V., Camphuysen, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Environmental Information for Siting and Operation of Floating Tidal Turbines in U.S. Waters Copping, A., Garavelli, L., Overhus, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Breeding Density and Collision Mortality of Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K., Smallwood, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Environmental Impacts of Tidal and Wave Energy Converters Hutchison, Z., Lieber, L., Miller, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Hywind Scotland Ornithological Monitoring Programme: Overwintering distributions of common guillemot and razorbill populations in Eastern Scotland Bogdanova, M., Buckingham, L., Newell, M. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds
Automatic Segregation of Pelagic Habitats Plonus, R-M., Vogl, S., Floeter, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Environmental Impact Assessment: Nuyakuk River Small Scale Hydroelectric Project Squire, R., Owen, A., Ngo-Ly, J. Report Marine Energy, Riverine Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Recreation & Tourism, Visual Impacts
A Review of Biodiversity Data Needs and Monitoring Protocols for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in the Baltic Sea and North Sea Stephenson, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Land suitability assessment for wind farms through best-worst method and GIS in Balıkesir province of Turkey Tercan, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement
Are fish in danger? A review of environmental effects of marine renewable energy on fishes Copping, A., Hemery, L., Viehman, H. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
Design, production, and validation of the biological and structural performance of an ecologically engineered concrete block mattress: A Nature-Inclusive Design for shoreline and offshore construction Sella, I., Hadary, T., Rella, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
The Design, Production and Validation of the Biological and Structural Performance of an Ecologically Engineered Concrete Block Mattress – A Nature Inclusive Design for Shoreline and Offshore construction Sella, I., Hadary, T., Rella, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Development and Marine Mammals Marine Mammal Commission Summary Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change, Vessel Strike Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Retiring environmental risks of marine renewable energy devices: the “habitat change” case Hemery, L., Rose, D., Freeman, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Stakeholder Engagement
Moving from scientific research to consenting guidance for MRE environmental risk Copping, A., Rose, D., Freeman, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
European Scalable Offshore Renewable Energy Source (EU-SCORES) Francisco Correia da Fonseca Research Study Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Ecological Baseline Studies of the US Outer Continental Shelf Willmot, J., Forcey, G., Vukovich, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Energy Development and Production in the Great Plains: Implications and Mitigation Opportunities Ott, J., Hanberry, B., Khalil, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Assessment of marine energy-biotopes for Cozumel Island's reefs: A resource for tourism and renewable ocean energy Callejas-Jiménez, M., Alcérreca-Huerta, J., Carrillo, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism
A practical wind farm siting framework integrating ecosystem services — A case study of coastal China Xing, L., Wang, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions
Life-cycle impacts of wind energy development on bird diversity in Norway May, R., Jackson, C., Middel, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Assessing movements of Lesser Black-backed Gulls using GPS tracking devices in relation to the Walney Extension and Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farms Clewley, G., Thaxter, C., Humphreys, E. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Resident breeding bird responses to wind turbines: A functional and phylogenetic perspective Ding, Z., Liang, J., Cai, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Marine Evidence packages ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) Webpage Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Land-Based Wind Energy Siting: A Foundational and Technical Resource Christol, C., Oteri, F., Laurienti, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Comparison of Environmental Effects from Different Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations (2021 Revision) Horwath, S., Hassrick, J., Grismala, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Reptiles
Global offshore wind turbine dataset Zhang, T., Sengupta, D., Zhang, L. Journal Article Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Marine Spatial Planning
Sustainable energy planning for remote islands and the waste legacy from renewable energy infrastructure deployment Kouloumpis, V., Yan, X. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data
Benthos Workgroup Report for the State of the Science Workshop on Wildlife and Offshore Wind Energy 2020: Cumulative Impacts Degraer, S., Hutchison, Z., LoBue, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Displaying 441 - 480 of 1533 results