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
Home range and habitat use of common noctules in the Dutch coastal zone Lagerveld, S., Janssen, R., Stienstra, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 Annual Report Anderson, P., Aldridge, C., Alexander, J. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Potential ecosystem effects of large upscaling of offshore wind in the North Sea: Recommendations for further work van der Molen, J., Soetaert, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Recent increase in knowledge about numbers and flight behaviour in the White-throated Needletail 'Hirundapus caudacutus' Tarburton, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
Ectoparasite Load Is Reduced in Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) at Wind Farms: Implications for Oxidative Stress Alaasam, V., Keehn, J., Durso, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Reptiles
Exploring the role of offshore wind in restoring priority marine habitats Robertson, M., Locke, S., Uttley, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Wind Energy Technologies Office Multi-Year Program Plan Fiscal Years 2021—2025 Marlay, R., Ahlgrimm, J., Clapper, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Potential impacts of submarine power cables from marine renewable energy projects on benthic communities Taormina, B. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Setting the Context for Offshore Wind Development Effects on Fish and Fisheries Gill, A., Degraer, S., Lipsky, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Stakeholder Engagement
Offshore Wind Energy and Benthic Habitat Changes: Lessons from Block Island Wind Farm Hutchison, Z., Bartley, M., Degraer, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on Coastal Resources: Lessons Learned Carey, D., Wilber, D., Read, L. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement
Offshore Wind Farm Artificial Reefs Affect Ecosystem Structure and Functioning: A Synthesis Degraer, S., Carey, D., Coolen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Considerations for Offshore Wind Energy Development Effects on Fish and Fisheries in the United States: A Review of Existing Studies, New Efforts, and Opportunities for Innovation Perry, R., Heyman, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Ocean energy and the environment: Research and strategic actions ETIP Ocean Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Moray East Construction Survey Summary Report Moray Offshore Wind Farm (East) Limited Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Ecological implications of removing a concrete gas platform in the North Sea Coolen, J., Bittner, O., Driessen, F. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
A spatial food web model to investigate potential spillover effects of a fishery closure in an offshore wind farm Halouani, G., Villanueva, C-M., Raoux, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
An integrated GIS approach for site selection of floating offshore wind farms in the Atlantic continental European coastline Díaz, H., Soares, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Effects of offshore windfarms on seabird abundance: Strong effects in spring and in the breeding season Peschko, V., Mendel, B., Müller, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Beyond static spatial management: Scientific and legal considerations for dynamic management in the high seas Crespo, G., Mossop, J., Dunn, D. Journal Article Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Could federal wind farms influence continental shelf oceanography and alter associated ecological processes? A literature review. Miles, T., Murphy, S., Kohut, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
WESE Deliverable 2.4 Monitoring of Seafloor Integrity Muxika, I., Vinagre, P., Bald, J. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change
Avian Ship-based Survey Final Post-Construction Monitoring Report Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Enabling Renewable Energy While Protecting Wildlife: An Ecological Risk-Based Approach to Wind Energy Development Using Ecosystem-Based Management Values Copping, A., Gorton, A., May, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Cumulative effects of marine renewable energy and climate change on ecosystem properties: Sensitivity of ecological network analysis Noguès, Q., Raoux, A., Araignous, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions
Using benthic macrofaunal assemblages to define habitat types on the northeast pacific sedimentary shelf and slope Henkel, S., Gilbane, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change
Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science Copping, A., Hemery, L., Overhus, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Shift in proximate causes of mortality for six large migratory raptors over a century De Pascalis, F., Panuccio, M., Bacaro, G. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Cumulative Noise Impacts to Marine Mammals from Offshore Wind Development and Operations Southall, B., Rosenbaum, H. Workshop Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Acoustic and Benthic Targeted Research Work Groups: Summary of Findings Roberts, J., Peplinski, W., Kramer, S. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Sediment Deposition Following Construction of a Breakwater Harbor: Point Judith Harbor of Refuge, Rhode Island, USA Oakley, B., Murphy, C., Lee, K. Journal Article Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions
A Review on Environmental and Social Impacts of Thermal Gradient and Tidal Currents Energy Conversion and Application to the Case of Chiapas, Mexico Rivera, G., Felix, A., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Experimental Investigation of Scour Prediction Methods for Offshore Tripod and Hexapod Foundations Ni, X., Xue, L. Journal Article Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Synthesis of the Science Workshop: Day 1 Summary Consensus Building Institute Workshop Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Fish assemblages of three common artificial reef designs during early colonization Hylkema, A., Debrot, A., Osinga, R. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Colonisation of wave power foundations by mobile mega- and macrofauna – a 12 year study Bender, A., Langhamer, O., Sundberg, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Investigating biophysical linkages at tidal energy candidate sites: a case study for combining environmental assessment and resource characterisation Scherelis, C., Penesis, I., Hemer, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Renewable energy homes for marine life: Habitat potential of a tidal energy project for benthic megafauna Taormina, B., Laurans, M., Marzloff, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates
OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World Copping, A., Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
2020 State of the Science Report - Chapter 6: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change
Displaying 521 - 560 of 1507 results