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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
Floating Wind Power in Deep-Sea Area: Life Cycle Assessment of Environmental Impacts Yuan, W., Feng, J., Zhang, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Data on benthic species assemblages and seafloor sediment characteristics in an offshore windfarm in the southeastern North Sea Teschke, K., Gusky, M., Gutow, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Birds vs. wind power – significant bird impacts of wind turbines in Finnish environmental impact assessment reports Hagman, A. Thesis Wind Energy Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment: Wave Swell Energy Test Site, Grassy Harbour, King Island, Tasmania Marine Solutions Report Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Functional trait responses to different anthropogenic pressures Festjens, F., Buyse, J., De Backer, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Supporting National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Offshore Wind Energy Development Related to Glauconite Sand Bruggeman, G., Middleton, P., Barnhart, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
SFW01-0097 South Fork Fisheries Monitoring Plan WP4: Fish Pot Survey Year 2 Report Bethoney, N., Olsen, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
The impact of onshore wind farms on ecological corridors in Ningbo, China Guan, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment
Reconciling climate action with the need for biodiversity protection, restoration and rehabilitation Gorman, C., Torsney, A., Gaughran, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Organic matter processing in a [simulated] offshore wind farm ecosystem in current and future climate and aquaculture scenarios Voet, H., Vlaminck, E., van Colen, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions
Offshore wind farm construction is noisy – but gadgets used to protect marine mammals are working Graham, I. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise
Minimizing habitat conflicts in meeting net-zero energy targets in the western United States Wu, G., Jones, R., Leslie, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Evidence that offshore wind farms might affect marine sediment quality and microbial communities Wang, T., Ru, X., Deng, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Insights from the management of offshore energy resources: Toward an ecosystem-services based management approach for deep-ocean industries Bravo, M., Brandt, M., van der Grient, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Social & Economic Data
SafeWave DELIVERABLE 2.4 Monitoring of the seabed integrity Muxika, I., Vinagre, P., Bourhis, E. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish
Using expert knowledge to identify key threats and conservation strategies for wildlife: A case study with bats in China Gao, H., Xiang, Z., He, J. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Bats, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Social & Economic Data
Wind energy expansion and birds: Identifying priority areas for impact avoidance at a national level Balotari-Chiebao, F., Santangeli, A., Piirainen, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes
Seabird use of tidal stream environments and potential interactions with tidal energy devices Isaksson, N. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Environmental assessment of proposed areas for offshore wind farms off southern Brazil based on ecological niche modeling and a species richness index for albatrosses and petrels Lemos, C., Hernandez, M., Vilardo, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
The negative impact of wind turbines on wildlife in South Africa Docrat, N. Thesis Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Progressive Insights in Changing Species Distribution Patterns Informing Marine Management Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Supporting National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Offshore Wind Energy Development Related to Heat from Buried Transmission Cables Middleton, P., Barnhart, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Getting ready for offshore wind farm expansion in the North Sea Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Environmental Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report 2022 Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) Report Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Probabilistic Assessment and Comparison of Scour Protections at Horns Rev 3 and Egmond aan Zee Offshore Wind Farms Chambel, J., Fazeres-Ferradosa, T., Figueiredo, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Hornsea Project Three Kittiwake Implementation and Monitoring Plan (KIMP) GeoBe Consultants, NIRAS Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Greater Gippsland Offshore Wind Project Preliminary Desktop Biodiversity and Constraints assessment Botha, J., Sime, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Terrestrial Mammals, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Suivi environnemental 2022: Suivi de la mortalité - Parc éolien de la Vallée de Torfou Habert, T., Yann, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors
Ecosystem Benefits of Floating Offshore Wind Haberlin, D., Cohuo, A., Doyle, T. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Report on the post monitoring of the sea ecosystem – seabed after deploying the WEC in the aquatory of Bar, Montenegro Joksimović, A. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Physical Environment
Offshore wind farms are projected to impact primary production and bottom water deoxygenation in the North Sea Daewel, U., Akhtar, N., Christiensen, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Greater Gippsland Offshore Wind Project Preliminary Hydrology Constraints Assessment Umwelt Environmental and Social Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Evidence for the effects of decommissioning man-made structures on marine ecosystems globally: a systematic map Lemasson, A., Somerfield, P., Schratzberger, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Greater Gippsland Offshore Wind Project Summary of Impacts Report Umwelt Environmental and Social Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Towards Holistic Characterization of the Near Seabed for Renewable Energy Installations in Shallow Marine Environments Clementi, M., Boiero, D., Leone, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Tidal range electricity generation: A comparison between estuarine barrages and coastal lagoons Vandercruyssen, D., Baker, S., Howard, D. Journal Article Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
SUIVI DE LA QUALITE DE L’EAU, DES HABITATS ET PEUPLEMENTS BENTHIQUES: PARC EOLIEN EN MER DE SAINT-NAZAIRE PHASE CONSTRUCTION 2022 Tertre, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Dominant Frequency Extraction for Operational Underwater Sound of Offshore Wind Turbines Using Adaptive Stochastic Resonance Wang, R., Xu, X., Zou, Z. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Physical Environment
Conceptualization of NEXUS elements in the marine environment (Marine NEXUS) Papadopoulou, M., Vlachou, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Chemicals, Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Recreation & Tourism
Clean Energy from the Ocean: Measuring the Environmental Footprint of Devices Rose, D., Gunn, C., Hemery, L. Magazine Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions

Displaying 321 - 360 of 1556 results