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
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
From Wind to Whales: Potential Hydrodynamic Impacts Of Offshore Wind Energy On Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology Hofmann, E., Carpenter, J., Chen, Q. Journal Article Wind Energy Displacement, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
RISK4DRAPTORS: prédire les risques de collision des grands oiseaux avec les infrastructures aériennes Hemery, A., Duriez, O., Henry, P. Report Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Assessing the potential impacts of floating Offshore Wind Farms on policy-relevant species: A case study in the Gulf of Roses, NW Mediterranean Wawrzynkowski, P., Molins, C., Lloret, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Supplementary eDNA analyses at the Hywind Tampen FOWF – Enhanced metabarcoding shark and skate detection and additional demersal fish analyses Hestetun, J., Mugu, S., Dahlgren, T. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish
Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico: Compilation of Educational Research Briefs [Booklet] Severy, M., Farr, H., Richlen, M. Summary Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
The impact of wind farm construction on swimming animals in the South Yellow Sea: An evaluation based on the biodiversity and microplastics He, J., Song, K., Chang, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals
System impacts of wind energy developments: Key research challenges and opportunities McKenna, R., Lilliestam, J., Heinrichs, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Diadromous Fish in the Context of Offshore Wind – Review of Current Knowledge & Future Research Honkanen, H., Moore, I., Roger, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish
Marine Fish Passage: Underappreciated Threats to Connectivity Within the Marine Environment Lennox, R., Birnie-Gauvin, K., Bate, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
A Fuzzy Logic Technique for the Environmental Impact Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Power Plants Flores, P., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Visual Impacts
Floating Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure Nielsen, K., Robertson, B., Sierman, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
A modeling framework for biodiversity assessment in renewable energy development: A case study on European bats and wind turbines Froidevaux, J., Le Viol, I., Barre, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
Assessment of forest disturbance and soil erosion in wind farm project using satellite observations Xia, Z., Li, Y., Guo, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Mapping relative risk to seabirds from offshore wind energy developments in Danish waters Isojunno, S. , Scott-Hayward, L., Thomsen, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Passerines, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Anholt Wind Farm's Impact on Benthic Biodiversity at Turbine and Farm Level Dahl, K., Robinson, B., Buur, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Marine biodiversity related to establishment of offshore wind turbines: A case study from Kriegers Flak in the western Baltic Sea Dahl, K., Buur, H., Göke, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
South Fork Fisheries Monitoring Plan Acoustic Telemetry Monitoring Survey 2024 Annual Report Long, M., Bethoney, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
SFW01-0097 South Fork Fisheries Monitoring Plan WP4: Fish Pot Survey Year 4 Report Bethoney, N., Olsen, N., Stoltz, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Shetland Tidal Array Monitoring Report July 2023 to June 2024 Smith, K. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Impacts of thermal and cold discharge from power plants on marine benthos and its mitigation measures: a systematic review Leng, Q., Mohamat-Yusuff, F., Mohamed, K.N. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Fish, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
SafeWave Deliverable 2.7 Development Of Guidelines For Environmental Monitoring Muxika, I., Bourhis, E., Felis, I. Report Marine Energy, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Physical Environment
SafeWave Deliverable 2.6 Data Results and analysis towards impacts' evaluation Bourhis, E., Soulard, T., Vinagre, P. Report Marine Energy, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Offshore wind and impacts on migratory waterfowl of the Atlantic flyway White, M. Thesis Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Passerines, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Towards holistic, participative and adaptable governance for offshore wind farm decommissioning Jurrius, L., van Hoof, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Wave and Tidal Energy: Evaluation of Feasibility, Costs, and Benefits Senate Bill 605 Report Lee, S., Strong, V., Aspen Environmental Group Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
MASTS ASM 2024 Workshop Proceeding: Tracking Top Predators in Marine Renewable Energy Development Areas Sutherland, J. Marine Energy, Wind Energy Attraction, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Large offshore wind farms have minimal direct impacts on air quality Golbazi, M., Archer, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
How should the use of offshore wind farms by birds be approached and should it be encouraged? Henry, S., Bourgeois, K., Cadiou, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Guidance on biodiversity cumulative impact assessment for wind and solar developments and associated infrastructure Bennun, L., Fletcher, C., Cook, A. Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Acoustic telemetry suggests the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula stays and uses habitats within a French offshore wind farm Labourgade, P., Couturier, L., Bourjea, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
A review of benthic ecological surveying for marine renewable developments in Scottish waters Aquatera Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
The contingent impact of wind farms on game mammal density demonstrated in a large-scale analysis of hunting bag data in Poland Klich, D., Kawka, J., Łopucki, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals
Wind energy and insects: reviewing the state of knowledge and identifying potential interactions Weschler, M., Tronstad, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Invertebrates
Marine infrastructure support fewer producers and more filter feeders than natural habitats: a review and meta-analysis McKibbin, O., Verges, A., Pottier, P. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Ecological design of scour protection for offshore wind power Junquera Barbazán, P., Sudjada, S. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Demersal Fish, Physical Environment
NMFS West Coast Offshore Wind Energy Strategic Science Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Marine biodiversity impact pathways for offshore wind farm decommissioning: Implications for Life Cycle impact assessment development Stranddorf, L., Colley, T., Delefosse, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Life on every stone: Characterizing benthic communities from scour protection layers of offshore wind farms in the southern North Sea Zupan, M., Coolen, J., Mavraki, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Avoidance & Minimisation of Environmental Impacts from Offshore Wind & Grid Infrastructure Offshore Coalition For Energy & Nature (OCEaN) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
Displaying 81 - 120 of 1507 results