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
Wozep Ecological Programme: Knowledge day Wozep/MONS 2024 Offshore Wind Ecological Programme (Wozep) Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts Ashraf, U., Morelli, T., Smith, A. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change
Changes in the occurrence of harbour porpoises following the construction of Moray Firth offshore windfarms Iorio-Merlo, V., Fernandez-Betelu, O., Benhemma-Le Gall, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Wave Energy Economic and Environmental Aspects Strengths (S), Weakness (W), Opportunity (O), and Threats (T) AlMallahi, M., Delvana, H., Haj Assad, M. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Social & Economic Data
Towards sustainable decommissioning: The importance of lifespan extension and standardisation Natuur & Milieu Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Offshore wind energy potential along the Indian Coast considering ecological safeguards Bonthu, S., Purvaja, R., Singh, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Wind energy development can lead to guild-specific habitat loss in boreal forest bats McKay, R., Johns, S., Bischof, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
Conditions for nature friendly and circular decommissioning Natuur & Milieu Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Conditions for sustainable decommissioning of offshore wind turbines Kelder, M., van Pelt, A., van Megen, O. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
What are the potential effects of offshore wind farms on coastal fish and their essential habitats? Henry, S., Couturier, L., Darnaude, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
New England Wind Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Using remote-sensing data to study the rapid growth of wind farms and their impact on bird habitat in Yellow Sea Wetland, China Zheng, Y., Wu, J., Sheviakina, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
Investigating displacement of marine animals as a potential effect of marine renewable energy development Hemery, L., Garavelli, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Assessment of ocean energy systems as a source of energy for a proposed aquaculture ecosystem in Guam Peralta, F. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Feasibility of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Development for U.S. Islands Copping, A., Farr, H. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Improving Understanding of Environmental Effects from Single MRE Devices to Arrays Hasselman, D., Hemery, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
From Science to Consenting: Applying Environmental Effects Information to Support Regulatory Decision-Making Freeman, M., Copping, A., Rose, D. Presentation Marine Energy Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Nature Inclusive Cable Enhancement and Protection (NICE) project: Phase 1 Literature Review Cefas Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Kriegers Flak II Technical Report - Bats Christensen, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats
NextWind: Advancing Wind Energy Technology Using Real-Time Monitoring Systems in a Digital Twin Application Siddiqi, K., Kramer, S., Schneider, S. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Developing expert scientific consensus on the environmental and societal effects of marine artificial structures prior to decommissioning Knights, A., Lemasson, A., Firth, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Bilan annuel 2023 des études environnementales sur le parc éolien en mer de Saint-Nazaire Parc éolien en mer de Saint-Nazaire Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Settlement success of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) on different types of hard substrate to support reef development in offshore wind farms ter Hofstede, R., Witte, S., Kamermans, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Localized Eco-Climatic Impacts of Onshore Wind Farms: A Review Ze, J., Xiuchun, Y., Ang, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Physical Environment
Shetland Tidal Array Project Environmental Monitoring Plan (PEMP) Smith, K. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Chemicals, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Using fisheries-dependent data to investigate landings of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) within an offshore wind farm Thatcher, H., Stamp, T., Moore, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
EVALUATING SOIL STIFFNESS FOR COASTAL VIRGINIA OFFSHORE WIND RESEARCH PROJECT MONOPILE FOUNDATIONS Price, K. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
The Relationship Between Offshore Wind Farms and Marine Wildlife in Rhode Island Lloyd, H. , Caputo. A., Foley. B. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report 2023 Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
SFW01-0097 South Fork Fisheries Monitoring Plan WP4: Fish Pot Survey Year 3 Report Bethoney, N., Olsen, N., Stoltz, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Ectoparasitism and Energy Infrastructure Limit Survival of Preadult Golden Eagles in the Southern Great Plains Murphy, R., Millsap, B., Stahlecker, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Remotely sensed evidence of the divergent climate impacts of wind farms on croplands and grasslands Liu, N., Zhao, X., Zhang, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Observed impacts of large wind farms on grassland carbon cycling Wu, D., Grodsky, S., Xu, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Longterm response of offshore wind farms on wintering birds Nielsen, J., Mortensen, M., Yasmin, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds
‘Scaling up’ our understanding of environmental effects of marine renewable energy development from single devices to large-scale commercial arrays Hasselman, D., Hemery, L., Copping, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
Assessing the Use of Long-Term Lek Survey Data to Evaluate the Effect of Landscape Characteristics and Wind Facilities on Sharp Tailed Grouse Lek Dynamics in North Dakota and South Dakota Shaffer, J., Buhl, D., Newton, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds
Ecosystem indicators: predicting population responses to combined climate and anthropogenic changes in shallow seas Trifonova, N., Scott, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
A synthesis review of nature positive approaches and coexistence in the offshore wind industry Pardo, J., Aune, M., Harman, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Occupancy model to unveil wildlife utilization at Yeongyang-gun wind farm management road, Korea Kim, S-H., Dhakal, T., Yoon, T-G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals
Decommissioning of offshore wind farms and its impact on benthic ecology Spielmann, V., Dannheim, J., Brey, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Displaying 201 - 240 of 1533 results