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Habitat Change

Underwater tidal turbine
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: 1556

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Large Scale Risk-Assessment of Wind-Farms on Population Viability of a Globally Endangered Long-Lived Raptor Carrete, M., Sanchez-Zapata, J., Benitez, J. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Raptors, Birds
Advanced Anchoring and Mooring Study Sound and Sea Technologies Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change
Refugium Effects of the MEP-NSW Windpark on Fish: Progress Report 2007 HilleRisLambers, R., ter Hofstede, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Modelling Human Impacts on the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax fleayi) Bekessy, S., Wintle, B., Gordon, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Raptors, Birds
Map-Based Repowering and Reorganization of a Wind Resource Area to Minimize Burrowing Owl and Other Bird Fatalities Smallwood, K., Neher, L., Bell, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Preliminary Flora and Fauna Assessment - Penshurst Wind Farm McMahon, A., Marr, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Wave Energy Conversion and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics Langhamer, O. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Wind Energy Development, Prescribed Fire and Migratory Land Birds in the Southeastern United States: Breeding, Stopover, and Wintering Habitat Relationships Brennan, L., Ballard, B., Kuvlesky, W. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm: Mid-Construction Scour and Inter-Array Cable Monitoring Surveys E.ON Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Potential Impacts of Wind Farm Energy Development on Upland Game Birds: Questions and Concerns Brennan, L., Perez, R., DeMaso, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Towers, Turbines, Power Lines, and Buildings-Steps Being Taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Avoid or Minimize Take of Migratory Birds at these Structures Manville, A. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Colonisation of Fish and Crabs of Wave Energy Foundations and the Effects of Manufactured Holes - A Field Experiment Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
The Distribution of Breeding Birds around Upland Wind Farms Pearce-Higgins, J., Stephen, L., Langston, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Avoidance Birds
Assessment of the Effects of the Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee (OWEZ) for Harbour Porpoise (comparison T0 and T1) Scheidat, M., Aarts, G., Bakker, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Marine Mammals
Bird species of concern at wind farms in New Zealand Powlesland, R. Book Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Birds
Land-Use Requirements of Modern Wind Power Plants in the United States Denholm, P., Hand, M., Jackson, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Local Effects of Blue Mussels Around Turbine Foundations in an Ecosystem Model of Nysted Off-Shore Wind Farm, Denmark Maar, M., Bolding, K., Petersen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Colonization of Blue Mussels (Mytilus Edulis) on Offshore Wave Power Installations Langhamer, O. Report Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Sage-Grouse and Wind Energy: Biology, Habits, and Potential Effects from Development Becker, J., Tagestad, J., Duberstein, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
MRE Extraction and Gulf Stream Dynamics Hanson, H., Chassignet, E., Bosec, A. Research Study Ocean Current, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Changes in Flow
Avoidance Behavior by Prairie Grouse: Implications for Development of Wind Energy Pruett, C., Patten, M., Wolfe, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Avoidance Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
Wind Power Plants and the Conservation of Birds and Bats in Spain: A Geographical Assessment Telleria, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Bats
Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VII Schwartz, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
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

Displaying 1321 - 1360 of 1556 results