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
Practical Approaches for Providing Empirical Data on Seabird Behavior and Prey Assemblages in Tidal Channels Fraser, S., Waggitt, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates
Prairie grouse and wind energy: The state of the science and implications for risk assessment Lloyd, J., Aldridge, C., Allison, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
Diet analysis of bats killed at wind turbines suggests large-scale losses of trophic interactions Scholz, C., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Invertebrates
Wind energy in the city: Hong Kong’s offshore wind energy generation potential, deployment plans, and ecological pitfalls Delina, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Human Dimensions
Offshore Wind Priority Conflict Topics for Marine Mammals and Birds Courbis, S., Pacini, A., Williams, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Identifying the Potential of Floating Artificial Benthic Ecosystems to Underpin Offshore Development Komyakova, V., Wright, B., Frusher, S. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Benchmarking Marine Energy Technologies Through LCA: Offshore Floating Wind Farms in the Mediterranean Pulselli, R., Maccanti, M., Bruno, M. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Environmental Compatibility of the Parc Tramuntana Offshore Wind Project in Relation to Marine Ecosystems Diez-Caballero, K., Troiteiro, S., Garcia-Alba, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Floating Offshore Wind: Environmental Interactions Roadmap: Public Summary Report ORE Catapult, Xodus Group Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Navigation
Offshore wind farms affect the spatial distribution pattern of plaice Pleuronectes platessa at both the turbine and wind farm scale Buyse, J., Hostens, K., Degraer, S. Journal Article Wind Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Fish
Unravelling the ecological impacts of large-scale offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea Lloret, J., Turiel, A., Solé, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning, Recreation & Tourism
DRAFT Ocean Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm Biological Assessment BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Evaluation of the Environmental Impacts Related to the Wind Farms End-of-Life Mello, G., Dias, M., Robaina, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Assessment
Essential Environmental Concepts for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in Europe Stephenson, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Keep it local and bird-friendly: Exploring the social acceptance of wind energy in Switzerland, Estonia, and Ukraine Vuichard, P., Broughel, A., Wüstenhagen, R. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Impact of Solar and Wind energy- A Review Hamed, T., Alshare, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Limited Land Base and Competing Land Uses Force Societal Tradeoffs When Siting Energy Development Shaffer, J., Niemuth, N., Loesch, C. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change
Tidal streams, fish, and seabirds: Understanding the linkages between mobile predators, prey, and hydrodynamics Couto, A., Williamson, B., Cornulier, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish
Annual environmental report 2021 – Belwind Belwind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Coastal onshore wind turbines lead to habitat loss for bats in Northern Germany Reusch, C., Lozar, M., Kramer-Schadt, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Decommissioning Programme Equinor Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Commercial Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Humboldt Wind Energy Area, California Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), BOEM Environmental Studies Program Report Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Experimental study of bed level changes in the vicinity of flap-type wave energy converters Taheri, O., Kolahdoozan, M., Faghihirad, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) in the Tropics: An Overview of MRE Potential in Oaxaca, Mexico Oman, J. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, OTEC, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data
Offshore renewables need an experimental mindset Johnson, A., Dawson, C., Conners, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Suitability for the development of flat oyster populations in new offshore wind farm zones and two search areas for restoration projects in the Dutch section of the North Sea Duren, L., Kamermans, P., Kleissen, F. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Dynamic land use implications of rapidly expanding and evolving wind power deployment Harrison-Atlas, D., Lopez, A., Lantz, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Artificial hard-substrate colonisation in the offshore Hywind Scotland Pilot Park Karlsson, R., Tivefälth, M., Duranović, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Measuring and visualizing environmental and social impacts of wind energy projects Pian, A., Verhoef, J., De Vries, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions
Potential impacts of floating wind turbine technology for marine species and habitats Maxwell, S., Kershaw, F., Locke, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Environmental Data Catalog for the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area Johnson, C., Currier, C., Howar, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles
Supporting National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Offshore Wind Energy Development Related to High Voltage Direct Current Cooling Systems Middleton, P., Barnhart, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
The Effects of Management Practices on Grassland Birds: An Introduction to North American Grasslands and the Practices Used to Manage Grasslands and Grassland Birds Shaffer, J., DeLong, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
Glider study at Hywind Scotland Ramasco, V. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery to Characterise Pursuit-Diving Seabird Association With Tidal Stream Hydrodynamic Habitat Features Slingsby, J., Scott, B., Kregting, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Project Summary of Outcomes and Results of Wave Energy in Southern Europe (WESE) Project Bald, J., Uyarra, M., Menchaca, I. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
How can the impacts of an operating wind farm on marine mammals be assessed? Couturier, L., Curé, C., Labach, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Marine Mammals
ORJIP Ocean Energy Information Note: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment
Framework for Assessing Ecological and Cumulative Effects (KEC) 4.0 for the roll-out of offshore wind energy and wind farm zones (Éxtra Task 2030+) Rijkswaterstaat Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Climate change effects on the ecophysiology and ecological functioning of an offshore wind farm artificial hard substrate community Voet, H., van Colen, C., Vanaverbeke, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions
Displaying 361 - 400 of 1533 results