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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
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
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
Ecological Effects of Wind-Energy Development National Resource Council Book Chapter Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision
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
Decommissioning Programme for Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Statoil Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
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
Guide to Preparing an EA Registration Document for Wind Power Projects in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (Nova Scotia Environment) Guidance Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Changes in Bird Habitat Utilisation around the Horns Rev 1 Offshore Wind Farm, with Particular Emphasis on Common Scoter Petersen, I., Fox, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Proceedings of the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup Research Planning Meeting VI Schwartz, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Poor Evidence-Base For Assessment Of Windfarm Impacts On Birds Steward, G., Pullin, A., Coles, C. Journal Article Wind Energy Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
Rigs-to-Reef Programs in the Gulf of Mexico Kaiser, M., Pulsipher, A. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Renewable Energy Resources and Wildlife: Impacts and Opportunities Arnett, E., Strickland, M., Morrison, M. Conference Paper Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Petroleum Production Platforms as Sites for the Expansion of Ciguatera in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico Villareal, T., Hanson, S., Qualia, S. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Pelagic Fish
Ecological performance of young-of-the-year blue rockfish (Sebastes mystinus) associated with oil platforms and natural reefs in California as measured by daily growth rates Love, M., Brothers, E., Schroeder, D. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Fish Assemblages on Sunken Vessels and Natural Reefs in Southeast Florida, USA Arena, P., Jordan, L., Spieler, R. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Nonindigenous biota on artificial structures: could habitat creation facilitate biological invasions? Glasby, T., Connell, S., Holloway, M. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Summary on Harbour Porpoise Monitoring 1999-2006 around Nysted and Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farms Teilmann, J., Tougaard, J., Carstensen, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise, Habitat Change Marine Mammals
Summary on Seal Monitoring 1999-2005 around Nysted and Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farms Teilmann, J., Tougaard, J., Carstensen, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Harbour Seals at Horns Reef Before, During and After Construction of Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm Tougaard, J., Tougaard, S., Jensen, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Fate of Unproductive and Unattractive Habitats: Recent Changes in Iberian Steppes and their Effects on Endangered Avifauna Laiolo, P., Tella, J. Journal Article Habitat Change Passerines, Birds
Response of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus) to Wind-power Development Walter, W., Leslie, D., Jenks, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals
Use of Aerial Surveys to Detect Bird Displacement by Offshore Windfarms Maclean, I., Skov, H., Rehfisch, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Ecological Survey and Impact Assessment for the Proposed Cable Route Corridor and Substation, Walpole, Lincolnshire, & Norfolk Lapwings Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Effects of High-Relief Structures on Cold Temperate Fish Assemblages: A field Experiment Wilhelmsson, D., Yahya, S., Öhman, M. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity Determined Using Acoustic Monitoring at a Proposed Wind Facility in South-Central Wisconsin Redell, D., Arnett, E., Hayes, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats
Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity at a Proposed Wind Facility in South-Central Pennsylvania Arnett, E., Hayes, J., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats
Bird Movements and Behaviors in the Gulf Coast Region: Relation to Potential Wind-Energy Developments Morrison, M. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change, Collision Birds
Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm Development: Seabed Comparison npower renewables Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Benthic Communities at Horns Rev Before, During and After Construction of Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm: Final Report Vattenfall Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Cape Wind SSCS Installation Bazzoni, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Spatial and Temporal Changes in the Assemblage Structure of Fish Associated to Fish Aggregation Devices in the Western Mediterranean Addis, P., Cau, A., Massutí, E. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Hydro-Acoustic Monitoring of Fish Communities at Offshore Wind Farms Hvidt, C., Leonhard, S., Klaustrup, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Changing wind-power landscapes: regional assessment of visual impact on land use and population in Northern Jutland, Denmark Moller, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
ATOC/Pioneer Seamount Cable after 8 Years on the Seafloor: Observations, Environmental Impact Kogan, I., Paull, C., Kuhnz, L. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
Tidal Barrages and Birds Clark, N. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Displacement Birds
Information Needs to Support Environmental Impact Assessments of the Effects of European Marine Offshore Wind Farms on Birds Fox, A., Desholm, M., Kahlert, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Assessing the Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds Drewitt, A., Langston, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds

Displaying 1401 - 1440 of 1556 results