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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
Effects of Wind Turbines on Area Use and Behaviour of Semi-Domestic Reindeer in Enclosures Flydal, K., Eftestol, S., Reimers, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals
Estimating Enhancement of Fish Production by Offshore Artificial Reefs: Uncertainty Exhibited by Divergent Scenarios Powers, S., Grabowski, J., Peterson, C. Journal Article Habitat Change, Attraction Fish
Environmental Impact of the ATOC/Pioneer Seamount Submarine Cable Kogan, I., Paull, C., Kuhnz, L. Report Habitat Change Physical Environment
The role of habitat selection behavior in population dynamics: source–sink systems and ecological traps Kristan, W. Journal Article Habitat Change
SuperGen Marine Energy Research Wallace, R., Ingram, D., Jeffrey, H. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Long-Term Dynamics of Fouling Communities Found on Offshore Installations in the North Sea Whomersley, P., Picken, G. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates
Marine Fish Assemblages Associated with Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs): Effects of Fish Removal, FAD Size, Fouling Communities, and Prior Recruits Nelson, P. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Homing of Pelagic Fish to Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs): The Role of Sensory Cues Dempster, T., Kingsford, M. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
A Marine Biological Underwater Depuration System (MUDS) to Process Waste Waters Cattaneo-Vietti, R., Benatti, U., Cerrano, C. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Ecosystem Processes
Onshore Environmental Impact Statement for Lincs, Docking Shoal, and Race Bank OSW Farms Centrica Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Interim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts from Wind Turbines US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Birds and Offshore Wind Farms: A Hot Topic in Marine Ecology Exo, K., Hüppop, O., Garthe, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
National Wind Technology Center Site Environmental Assessment: Bird and Bat Use and Fatalities - Final Report Schmidt, E., Piaggo, A., Bock, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments Erickson, W., Johnson, G., Young, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Ecological and evolutionary traps Schlaepfer, M., Runge, M., Sherman, P. Journal Article Habitat Change
Elsam. Offshore Wind Farm. Horns Rev. Annual status report for the environmental monitoring programme 1. January 2001 - 31. December 2001 Tech-Wise A/S Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Burbo Offshore Wind Farm Volume 2: ES Biological Environment University of Liverpool Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Avian/Wind Turbine Interactions: A Short Summary of Research Results and Remaining Questions National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
A General Theory on Fish Aggregation to Floating Objects: An Alternative to the Meeting Point Hypothesis Castro, J., Santiago, J., Santana-Ortega, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Evaluating the Coastal Environment for Marine Birds Wanless, S., Bacon, P., Harris, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment
Postdevelopment Experiments to Detect Anthropogenic Disturbances: The Case of Sea Ducks and Wind Parks Guillemette, M., Larsen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Waterfowl, Birds
An Assessment of the Impacts of Green Mountain Power Corporation's Wind Power Facility on Breeding and Migrating Birds in Searsburg, Vermont: July 1996-July 1998 Kerlinger, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Passerines, Birds
Predicting the Displacement of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra from Benthic Feeding Areas Due to Offshore Windfarms Kaiser, M., Elliott, A., Galanidi, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Evaluating artificial reef performance: approaches to pre- and post-deployment research Wilding, T., Sayer, M. Journal Article Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Are Southern California Oil and Gas Platforms Essential Fish Habitat Helvey, M. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Maiden Wind Farm Benton County, Washington Final SEPA Environmental Impact Statement and Final NEPA Environmental Impact Statement Bonneville Power Administration Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Residence of Fish in the Vicinity of a Decommissioned Oil Platform in the North Sea Jørgensen, T., Løkkeborg, S., Soldal, A. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Rigs-to-Reefs in the North Sea: Hydroacoustic Quantification of Fish Associated with a 'Semi-Cold' Platform Soldal, A., Svellingen, I., Jørgensen, T. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish
Golden Eagles in a Multiple Land-Use Environment: A Case Study in Conflict Management Madders, M., Walker, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Statement GE Wind Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Urban Structures as Marine Habitats: An Experimental Comparison of the Composition and Abundance of Subtidal Epibiota Among Pilings, Pontoons and Rocky Reefs Connell, S. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates, Ecosystem Processes
Status of Avian Research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Sinclair, K. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Proceedings of the National Avian - Wind Power Planning Meeting IV NWCC Avian Subcommittee Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Assessment of the Effects of Offshore Wind in Birds Percival, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Characteristics of Avian Mortality at a North Florida Television Tower: A 29-Year Study Engstrom, R., Crawford, R. Journal Article Habitat Change Birds, Passerines
Effects of Wind Turbines and Other Physical Elements on Field Utilization by Pink-Footed Geese (Anser brachyrhynchus): A Landscape Perspective Larsen, J., Madsen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Avoidance Waterfowl, Birds
Proceedings of the National Avian - Wind Power Planning Meeting III LGL Ltd Conference Paper Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Effects of Marine Windfarms on the Distribution of Fish, Shellfish and Marine Mammals in the Horns Rev Area Hoffmann, E., Astrup, J., Larsen, F. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise, Habitat Change, EMF, Avoidance, Attraction Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals, Invertebrates, Fish
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Power Farm Environmental Impact Assessment on Water Quality Andersen, P. Report Wind Energy Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Marine Spatial Planning
Ponnequin Wind Energy Project: Reference Site Avian Study Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Ryder, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Passerines, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds

Displaying 1481 - 1520 of 1556 results