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
Potential Impacts of Wind Farms on Migratory Birds Crossing Spain Telleria, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Development of Invertebrate Assemblages and Fish on Offshore Wave Power Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D., Engström, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Birds, Bats and Coastal Wind Farm Development in Maine: A Literature Review Goodale, W., Divoll, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Overlap Between Wind Power Plants and Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus in Spain Telleria, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Seasonal Distribution Of Harbour Porpoises And Possible Interference Of Offshore Wind Farms In The German North Sea Gilles, A., Scheidat, M., Siebert, U. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals
On-Shore Bird and Bat Pre- and Post-Construction Monitoring Protocol for Commercial Wind Energy Facilities in Ohio: An Addendum to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Voluntary Cooperative Agreement Ohio Department of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Barriers to Movement: Impacts of Wind Farms on Migrating Birds Masden, E., Haydon, D., Fox, A. Journal Article Wind Energy Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Testing and validation of automated whistle and click detectors using PAMGUARD 1.0 Yack, T., Barlow, J., Rankin, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals
Understanding and Managing Human Threats to the Coastal Marine Environment Crain, C., Halpern, B., Beck, M. Journal Article Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Artificial Reef Effect and Fouling Impacts on Offshore Wave Power Foundations and Buoys - A Pilot Study Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D., Engström, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Whooping Cranes and Wind Development - An Issue Paper US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Shorebirds
Wind Turbines and Birds The Erie Shores Wind Farm Experience: Breeding Bird Surveys James, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Epibenthic colonization of concrete and steel pilings in a cold-temperate embayment: a field experiment Andersson, M., Berggren, M., Wilhelmsson, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
Development of Spatial Information Layers for Commercial Fishing and Shellfishing in UK Waters to Support Strategic Siting of Offshore Windfarms Dunstone, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Impact of Wind Power Plants on Black Grouse, Lyrurus tetrix in Alpine Regions Zeiler, H., Grunschachner-Berger, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
An immersive path-based study of wind turbines' landscape: A French case in Plouguin Jallouli, J., Moreau, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
It's Not Easy Being Green: Wind Energy and a Declining Grassland Bird Pruett, C., Patten, M., Wolfe, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Avoidance Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
The Habitat-Creation Potential of Offshore Wind Farms Elliott, M., Wilson, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
The Value of a Net-Cage as a Fish Aggregating Device in Southern California Oakes, C., Pondella, D. Journal Article Habitat Change, Attraction Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Fish
Using probability of occurrence to assess potential interaction between wind farms and a residual population of golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos in NW Spain Tapia, L., Dominguez, J., Rodriguez, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Lorraine, R., Tremlett, C. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem Doney, S., Fabry, V., Feely, R. Journal Article Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Wave Energy and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics Langhamer, O. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Early colonisation of a concrete offshore windmill foundation by marine biofouling on the Thornton Bank (southern North Sea) Kerckhof, F., Norro, A., Jacques, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds: A Review Powlesland, R. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds
Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: State of the Art After Two Years of Environmental Monitoring Degraer, S., Brabant, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Atlantic Coast Diadromous Fish Habitat: A Review of Utilization, Threats, Recommendations for Conservation, and Research Needs Greene, K., Zimmerman, J., Laney, R. Report Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Aspects of Offshore Renewable Energy and the Alterations of Marine Habitats Wilhelmsson, D. Thesis Wind Energy, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Anholt Offshore Wind Farm Marine Geophysical Investigations Leth, J., Al-Hamdani, Z., Novak, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm Turbine Foundation Faunal Colonisation Diving Survey Fugro EMU Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Animal Behavioral Adaptation to Changing Landscapes: Spring-Staging Geese Habituate to Wind Farms Madsen, J., Boertmann, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Minimal effects of wind turbines on the distribution of wintering farmland birds Devereux, C., Denny, M., Whittingham, M. Journal Article Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Colonization of an Artificial Hard Substrate by Mytilus edulis in the German Bight Joschko, T., Buck, B., Gutow, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: Iberdrola Renewables Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Hard Coastal-Defence Structures as Habitats for Native and Exotic Rocky-Bottom Species Vaselli, S., Bulleri, F., Benedetti-Cecchi, L. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates
Horns Rev II Offshore Wind Farm Monitoring of Migrating Waterbirds Piper, W., Kulik, G., Durinck, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Oregon Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Wind Energy: Siting and Permitting Guidelines Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Taskforce Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Spatial Overlap of Wind Farms on Peatland with Sensitive Areas for Birds Bright, J., Langston, R., Pearce-Higgins, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Fouling Assemblages on Offshore Wind Power Plants and Adjacent Substrata Wilhelmsson, D., Malm, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Horns Rev II Offshore Wind Farm Food Basis for Common Scoter Skov, H., Durinck, J., Erichsen, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Displaying 1321 - 1360 of 1533 results