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
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
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
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
‘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
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
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
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
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
Waterbodies thermal energy based systems interactions with marine environment — A review Bordbar, A., Georgoulas, K., Dai, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
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
Exploration of potential collaboration on preventive, mitigation and compensation measures van der Kamp, M., Brekelmans, M., Verweij, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
The overlooked threat of land take from wind energy infrastructures: Quantification, drivers and policy gaps Kati, V., Kassara, C., Panagos, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Key Biofouling Organisms in Tidal Habitats Targeted by the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector in the North Atlantic Include the Massive Barnacle Chirona hameri Want, A., Goubard, A., Jonveaux, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Modeling Morphodynamic Impacts and Optimization of Marine Hydrokinetic Arrays in Shallow Offshore Environments Moghadam, H., Ortiz, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse Published from October 2019 to July 2022 Teige, E., Maxwell, L., Jordan, S. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Fisheries Baseline Analysis for Rhode Island for the SouthCoast Wind Brayton Point Export Cable Route and Rhode Island GLDs Kite-Powell, H., Jin, D., Weir, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Social & Economic Data
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part B) Odinga, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
BatTool: projecting bat populations facing multiple stressors using a demographic model Wiens, A., Schorg, A., Szymanski, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Bats
Tidal energy extraction modifies tidal asymmetry and transport in a shallow, well-mixed estuary Spicer, P., Yang, Z., Wang, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Revealing the ecological impact of low-speed mountain wind power on vegetation and soil erosion in South China: A case study of a typical wind farm in Yunnan Ma, B., Yang, J., Chen, X. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part C) Quee, N. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Field data-based correlation between scour at offshore wind farms (OWFs) and hydrodynamic drivers Ludwig, F. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Assessing the effect of onshore and offshore Wave Energy Converters on seafloor integrity combining image-based and acoustic methods Muxika, I., Vinagre, P., Le Bouhris, E. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change
Assessment of the impact of tidal power extraction from the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier through the evaluation of a pilot plant Fockert, A., Bijlsma, A., O'Mahoney, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
Vision paper: Decommissioning offshore windparks in the Belgian part of the North Sea Van Maele, T., Desplenter, N., Van Aken, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Cruise report Hywind Tampen 13 to 28 March 2023 Utne-Palm, A., Søiland, H., Sveistrup, A. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Pelagic Fish
Shetland Tidal Array Decommissioning Environmental and Protected Species Risk Assessment Smith, K. Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Forecasting suitable areas for wind turbine occurrence to proactively improve wildlife conservation Boggie, M., Butler, M., Sesnie, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions
Shetland Tidal Array Monitoring Report April 2022 to July 2023 Nova Innovation Report Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Reef-building species and biogenic reef enhancement in the Dutch North Sea Sas, H., van Duren, L., Herman, P. Report Habitat Change Invertebrates
Displaying 201 - 240 of 1507 results