Short Science Summary: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Marine Habitat

Potential Environmental Effects on Habitats from Marine Renewable Energy: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Most marine renewable energy (MRE) devices must be attached to the seafloor in some way, either by gravity foundations, pilings, or anchors, and many will also have transmission cables on the seabed, and mooring lines, as well as the devices themselves in the water column. Physical changes in benthic and pelagic habitats have the potential to alter where species live and how common they are at a site, and they may lead to habitat loss, provide opportunities for non-native species to become established, alter ecological patterns, modify ecosystem functions and the services the ecosystem provides, and affect the behavior of many marine organisms.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 6: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices.

The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
‘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., Fulton, E., Fox, J., Gill, A., Polagye, B. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
Waterbodies thermal energy based systems interactions with marine environment — A review Bordbar, A., Georgoulas, K., Dai, Y., Michele, S., Roberts, F., Carter, N., Lee, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
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
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., Leaver, D., Bell, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Invertebrates
Tidal energy extraction modifies tidal asymmetry and transport in a shallow, well-mixed estuary Spicer, P., Yang, Z., Wang, T., Deb, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
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., Villarín, E., Tanguy, F., Niclot, C., Bald, J. 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., Verbruggen, W., Scheijgrond, P., Wang, Z. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
Information to support Environmental Assessment of tidal lagoon developments in Wales Natural Resource Wales Guidance Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
No Observed Effects of Subsea Renewable Energy Infrastructure on Benthic Environments Smyth, D., Kregting, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment
Characterizing seabed sediments at contrasting offshore renewable energy sites Amjadian, P., Neill, S., Barclay, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Site Selection of Combined Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Farms: A Systematic Review Hosseinzadeh, S., Etemad-Shahidi, A., Stewart, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Impact Assessment: Wave Swell Energy Test Site, Grassy Harbour, King Island, Tasmania Marine Solutions Report Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Environmental Impact Assessment
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., Dahlgren, T., Esquete, P., Gollner, S., Jones, D., Levin, L., McClain, C., Narayanaswamy, B., Sutton, T., Victorero, L., Cordes, E. 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
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
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
Evidence for the effects of decommissioning man-made structures on marine ecosystems globally: a systematic map Lemasson, A., Somerfield, P., Schratzberger, M., McNeill, C., Nunes, J., Pascoe, C., Watson, S., Thompson, M., Couce, E., Knights, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Towards Holistic Characterization of the Near Seabed for Renewable Energy Installations in Shallow Marine Environments Clementi, M., Boiero, D., Leone, C., Masnaghetti, L. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
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
Implementation of the Spatial Environmental Assessment Toolkit McWilliams, S., Jones, C., Roberts, J., Pendleton, E. Presentation Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change, Noise
Detection of Habitat Shifts of Cetacean Species: A Comparison Between 2010 and 2017 Habitat Suitability Conditions in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean Chavez-Rosales, S., Josephson, E., Palka, D., Garrison, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Displacement, Habitat Change Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
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
Environmental impact of renewable energy source based electrical power plants: Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, tidal, ocean, and osmotic Rahman, A., Farrok, O., Haque, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Tidal streams, fish, and seabirds: Understanding the linkages between mobile predators, prey, and hydrodynamics Couto, A., Williamson, B., Cornulier, T., Fernandes, P., Fraser, S., Chapman, J., Davies, I., Scott, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish
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
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery to Characterise Pursuit-Diving Seabird Association With Tidal Stream Hydrodynamic Habitat Features Slingsby, J., Scott, B., Kregting, L., McIlvenny, J., Wilson, J., Yanez, M., Langlois, S., Williamson, B. 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., Pouso, S., Uriarte, A., Garlsparsoro, I., de Santiago, I., Muxika, I., Simas, T., Vinagre, P., Machado, I., Apolonia, M., Cruz E., Chainho, P., Gonçalvez, J., Enciso, Y., Marina, D., Zubiate, L., Etxaniz, P., de Miguel, B., Madrid, E., Felis, I., Martinez, R., Chambel, J., Moitinho, L., Bartolomeu, S., Santos, H., Galvão, P., Basos, N., Moura, T., Nyman, M., Pech, M. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Triton Field Trials - Changes in Habitats, a Literature Review of Monitoring Technologies Hemery, L., Mackereth, K., Tugade, L. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Environmental Effects from Wave Power: Artificial Reefs and Incidental No-take Zones Bender, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
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
Triton Field Trials: Promoting Consistent Environmental Monitoring Methodologies for Marine Energy Sites Eaves, S., Staines, G., Harker-Klimes, G., Pinza, M., Geerlofs, S. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions
Use of Our Future Seas: Relevance of Spatial and Temporal Scale for Physical and Biological Indicators Trifonova, N., Scott, B., De Dominicis, M., Wolf, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
A Review of Modeling Approaches for Understanding and Monitoring the Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Garcia Medina, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
What’s in My Toolkit? A Review of Technologies for Assessing Changes in Habitats Caused by Marine Energy Development Hemery, L., Mackereth, K., Tugade, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Stressor-Specific Guidance Document: Habitat Change OES-Environmental Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Biological Consequences of Marine Energy Development on Marine Animals Hemery, L., Copping, A., Overhus, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds
Cost Efficiency of Environmental DNA as Compared to Conventional Methods for Biodiversity Monitoring Purposes at Marine Energy Sites Fu, M., Hemery, L., Sather, N. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Information for Siting and Operation of Floating Tidal Turbines in U.S. Waters Copping, A., Garavelli, L., Overhus, D., Tugade, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Environmental Impacts of Tidal and Wave Energy Converters Hutchison, Z., Lieber, L., Miller, R., Williamson, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
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