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
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
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
Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm Turbine Foundation Faunal Colonisation Diving Survey Fugro EMU Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
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
Wind Farms and Mires in the Basque Country and North-West Navarra, Spain Heras, P., Infante, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Avian Issues for Offshore Wind Development Allison, T., Jedrey, E., Perkins, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Rhyl Flats Wind Farm: Environmental Management Plan (Version 2.2) npower renewables Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise
Assessing the Impact of Wind Farms on the Plant Diversity of Blanket Bogs in the Xistral Mountains (NW Spain) Fraga, M., Romero-Pedeira, D., Souto, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Wind Power Company Compliance with Mitigation Plans in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Fish Assemblages Associated with Urban Structures and Natural Reefs in Sydney, Australia Clynick, B., Chapman, M., Underwood, A. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish
Effect Studies Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee: Progress Report on Fluxes and Behaviour of Flying Birds Krijgsveld, K., Fijn, R., Heunks, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds
Ecological Risk as a Tool for Evaluating the Effects of Offshore Wind Farm Construction in the North Sea Nunneri, C., Lenhart, J., Burkhard, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
Interim Report Benthos Recruitment T1 Bergman, M., Duineveld, G., van 't Hof, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Offshore wind farm Egmond aan Zee benthos densities progress report Daan, R., Mulder, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
The effect of predation on artificial reef juvenile demersal fish species Leitão, F., Santos, M., Erzini, K. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable to the Offshore Wind Farm Industry UK Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Populationsdynamik von kommerziell genutzten Fischarten in (durch Offshore- Windkraftanlagen) veränderter Ökosystemstruktur Diembeck, D. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Review of the Reef Effects of Offshore Wind Farm Structures and their Potential for Enhancement and Mitigation UK Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Probability of Impact Workshop National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Robin Rigg Monitoring Cable Route Benthic Macro-Invertebrate Data Reports: 2007-2011 Entec Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Wave power devices as artificial reefs Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity at a Proposed Wind Facility in Northwest Massachusetts: 2006 Annual Report Arnett, E., Huso, M., Reynolds, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
Impacts of Wind Energy Facilities on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Arnett, E., Inkley, D., Johnson, D. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change
Offshore Wind Farms: Their Impacts, and Potential Habitat Gains as Artificial Reefs, in Particular for Fish Wilson, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Ecological Effects of Wind-Energy Development National Resource Council Book Chapter Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision
Decommissioning Programme for Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Statoil Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Worldwide Synthesis and Analysis of Existing Information Regarding Environmental Effects of Alternative Energy Uses on the Outer Continental Shelf Michel, J., Dunagan, H., Boring, C. Report Wind Energy, Wave, OTEC, Fixed Offshore Wind, Ocean Current, Marine Energy Habitat Change
Robin Rigg Monitoring Windfarm Site Benthic Macro Invertebrate Data Reports: 2007-2011 Entec Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm Monitoring Statement (Version 1.4) npower renewables Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
Biglow Canyon Wind Farm: Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Portland General Electric Company, Oregon Department of Energy Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Displaying 1321 - 1360 of 1507 results