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
Wind Energy Plants and Possible Effects on Samandağ Sea Turtles Yalçın-Özdilek, S., Yalçın, S. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Reptiles, Sea Turtles
A Bayesian approach to habitat suitability prediction Lockett, D. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Use and Population Demographics at the Simpson Ridge Wind Resource Area, Carbon County, Wyoming Johnson, G., LeBeau, C., Nielsen, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions
Greater impacts of wind farms on bird populations during construction than subsequent operation: results of a multi-site and multi-species analysis Pearce-Higgins, J., Stephen, L., Douse, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Birds
Griffon Vulture Mortality at Wind Farms in Southern Spain: Distribution of Fatalities and Active Mitigation Measures de Lucas, M., Ferrer, M., Bechard, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Birds
Putting Aeolus to work without the death toll: federal wind farm siting guidelines can mitigate avian and Chiropteran mortality Mensing, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Best Management Practices for siting, developing, operating, and monitoring renewable energy in the Intermountain West: A Conservationist's Guide Jones, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Terrestrial Mammals, Raptors, Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds, Bats
Strategic Impact Assessment of Offshore Windpower in Norway - Impacts on Seabirds Lorensten, S., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Follestad, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
How do diurnal long-distance migrants select flight altitude in relation to wind? Mateos-Rodriguez, M., Liechti, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Shorebirds, Raptors, Passerines, Birds
Measuring the interaction between marine features of Special Protection Areas with offshore wind farm development zones through telemetry: second year report Thaxter, C., Ross-Smith, V., Clark, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Siting Study for a Hydrokinetic Energy Project Located Offshore Southeastern Florida: Protocols for Survey Methodology for Offshore Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Projects Dehlsen Associates Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment, Invertebrates
Evidence of Latitudinal Migration in Tri-colored Bats, Perimyotis subflavus Fraser, E., McGuire, L., Eger, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
Avian Collision Mortality at 50- and 60- m Guyed Towers in Central California Kerlinger, P., Guarnaccia, J., Hasch, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Passerines
Draft Black Oak & Getty Wind Avian and Bat Protection Plan Black Oak Wind, Getty Wind Company Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Vulnerability of Scottish Seabirds to Offshore Wind Turbines Furness, B., Wade, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Avian and Bat Protection Plan for the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility Ocotillo Express Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Large Scale Interactive Coupled 3D Modelled for Wave and Tidal Energy Resource and Environmental Impact (TeraWatt) Heath, M., Harris, R., McKee, D. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Collision, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Kāneohe Wave Energy Test Site: Remotely Operated Vehicle Survey Sea Engineering Inc Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Physical Environment
On the Effect of Structure-Induced Resistance and Mixing on Inflows into the Baltic Sea: A Numerical Model Study Rennau, H., Schimmels, S., Burchard, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Water Quality, Physical Environment
Subtidal Benthic Video and Benthic Infauna Survey and Intertidal Cable Crossing Survey MER Assessment Corporation Report Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment, Invertebrates
Female Agassizs Desert Tortoise Activity at a Wind Energy Facility in Southern California: The Influence of an El Nino Event Ennen, J., Meyer, K., Lovich, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Interactive Marine Spatial Planning: Siting Tidal Energy Arrays around the Mull of Kintyre Alexander, K., Janssen, R., Arciniegas, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Big Blue Wind Energy Project Avian and Bat Protection Plan Western Ecosystems Technology Inc (WEST) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
Quantifying Benefits and Impacts of Fishing Exclusion Zones on Bio-Resources around Marine Renewable Energy Installations (QBEX) Blondel, P., Bryden, I., Conley, D. Research Study Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Collision, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Wind Turbines and Coastal Recreation Demand Landry, C., Allen, T., Cherry, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Recreation & Tourism, Human Dimensions
The Interaction of Pelagic, Migratory and Protected Fishes with Marine Renewable Energy Projects: Recent Studies and Knowledge Gaps Nelson, P. Presentation Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, EMF, Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Heading for an Understanding of Environmental Impacts Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Habitat Use, Disturbance and Collision Risks for Bewick's Swans Cygnus columbianus bewickii Wintering Near a Wind Farm in the Netherlands Fijn, R., Krijgsveld, K., Tijsen, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
The Environmental Interactions of Tidal and Wave Energy Generation Devices Frid, C., Andonegi, E., Depestele, J. Journal Article Wave, Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment
Reduced Breeding Success in White-Tailed Eagles at Smøla windfarm, Western Norway, is Caused by Mortality and Displacement Dahl, E., Bevanger, K., Nygård, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision Raptors, Birds
A Marine Spatial Planning Approach to Select Suitable Areas for Installing Wave Energy Converters on the Basque Continental Shelf (Bay of Biscay) Galparsoro, I., Liria, P., Legorburu, I. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Mortality at wind-farms is positively related to large-scale distribution and aggregation in griffon vultures Carrete, M., Sanchez-Zapata, J., Benitez, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Raptors, Birds
Birds and Wave & Tidal Stream Energy: An Ecological Review McCluskie, A., Langston, R., Wilkinson, N. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Shorebirds
Migration and Habitat Use by Seabirds in the Atlantic Flyway: Evaluation of Potential Impacts of Proposed Wind Farms Berlin, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
The prosecutor's vulture: inconsistent MBTA prosecution, its clash with wind farms, and how to fix it Brunner, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Interactions with Offshore Wind Energy: Birds and Bats Island Institute Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Changes in Flow, Avoidance, Attraction Seabirds, Birds, Bats
Changing Coasts: Marine Aliens and Artificial Structures Mineur, F., Cook, E., Minchin, D. Book Chapter Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Monitoring and Evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas (MESMA) van Hoof, L. Research Study Wind Energy, Wave, Tidal, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Have we all gone batty? The need for a better balance between the conservation of protected species and the development of clean renewable energy Householder, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Human Dimensions
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