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.

Download the Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Short Science Summary

The table below contains the literature relevant to environmental effects of habitat change and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Assessment of marine energy-biotopes for Cozumel Island's reefs: A resource for tourism and renewable ocean energy Callejas-Jiménez, M., Alcérreca-Huerta, J., Carrillo, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism
Sustainable energy planning for remote islands and the waste legacy from renewable energy infrastructure deployment Kouloumpis, V., Yan, X. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Assessment of the Impacts and Benefits of a Salinity Gradient Energy Pilot Plant Marin-Coria, E., Silva, R., Enriquez, C., Martinez, M., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Salinity Gradient Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
An Evaluation of the Potential Impact of Extracting Marine Renewable Energy in the Coastal Environment of the Black Sea Zburlea, L., Rusu, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals
Multi-Disciplinary and Multi-Scale Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Structure in a Tidal System Raoux, A., Robin, I., Pezy, J., Bennis, A., Dauvin, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates
Application of a multibeam echosounder to document changes in animal movement and behaviour around a tidal turbine structure Williamson, B., Blondel, P., Williamson, L., Scott, B. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Ocean energy and the environment: Research and strategic actions ETIP Ocean Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Potential Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development—The State of the Science Copping, A., Hemery, L., Overhus, D., Garavelli, L., Freeman, M., Whiting, J., Gorton, A., Farr, H., Rose, D., Tugade, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Long-Term Observations of Beach Variability at Hasaki, Japan Banno, M., Nakamura, S., Kosako, T., Nakagawa, Y., Yanagishima, S., Kuriyama, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Climate Change
A Review on Environmental and Social Impacts of Thermal Gradient and Tidal Currents Energy Conversion and Application to the Case of Chiapas, Mexico Rivera, G., Felix, A., Mendoza, E. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Colonisation of wave power foundations by mobile mega- and macrofauna – a 12 year study Bender, A., Langhamer, O., Sundberg, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Investigating biophysical linkages at tidal energy candidate sites: a case study for combining environmental assessment and resource characterisation Scherelis, C., Penesis, I., Hemer, M., Cossu, R., Wright, J., Guihen, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Renewable energy homes for marine life: Habitat potential of a tidal energy project for benthic megafauna Taormina, B., Laurans, M., Marzloff, M., Dufournaud, N., Lejart, M., Desroy, N., Leroy, D., Martin, S., Carlier, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates
OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World Copping, A., Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Waterfowl, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
2020 State of the Science Report - Chapter 6: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices Hemery, L. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change
Succession in epibenthic communities on artificial reefs associated with marine renewable energy facilities within a tide-swept environment Taormina, B., Percheron, A., Marzloff, M., Caisey, X., Quillienn, N., Lejart, M., Desroy, N., Dugornay, O., Tancray, A., Carlier, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Modelling the impact of tidal range energy on species communities Baker, A., Craighead, R., Jarvis, E., Stenton, H., Angeloudis, A., Mackie, L., Avdis, A., Piggott, M., Hill, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Dataset for concurrent echosounder and ADCP measurements at a tidal energy candidate site in Australia Scherelis, C., Penesis, I., Hemer, M., Cossu, R., Wright, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Avoidance, Habitat Change Fish
A Benthic Habitat Monitoring Approach for Marine and Hydrokinetic Sites Revelas, G., Sackmann, B., Jones, C., Maher, N. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment
Activity-footprints, pressures-footprints and effects-footprints-Walking the pathway to determining and managing human impacts in the sea Elliott, M., Borja, A., Cormier, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Science in support of ecologically sound decommissioning strategies for offshore man-made structures: taking stock of current knowledge and considering future challenges Birchenough, S., Degraer, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Development of epibenthic assemblages on artificial habitat associated with marine renewable infrastructure Sheehan, E., Cartwright, A., Witt, M., Attrill, M., Vural, M., Holmes, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Review of Available Models for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Garcia Medina, G. , Hibler, L. Report Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Mapping of Benthic Habitats at Marine Renewable Energy Sites Using Multibeam Echosounder and Sediment Profile Imaging Technologies Revelas, E., Sackmann, B., Maher, N., Jones, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Understanding coastal impacts by nearshore wave farms using a phase-resolving wave model Rijnsdorp, D., Hansen, J., Lowe, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Risk Retirement for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Copping, A., Freeman, M., Overhus, D. Report Marine Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Ecological best practice in decommissioning: a review of scientific research Fortune, I., Paterson, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Underwater Visual Records of Marine Megafauna Around Offshore Anthropogenic Structures Todd, V., Lazar, L., Williamson, L., Peters, I., Hoover, A., Cox, S., Todd, I., Macreadie, P., McLean, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles
Accumulating Biofouling - and Knowledge Navarrete, S., Parragué, M., Osiadacz, N., Rojas, F., Bonicelli, J., Fernández, M., Arboleda-Baena, C., Finke, R., Baldanzi, S. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Flume experiments on the impact of a cross-flow turbine on an erodible bed Ebrahimi, M., Duncan, S., Belmont, M., Kripakaran, P., Tabor, G., Moon, I., Djordjević, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change
Social network analysis as a tool for marine spatial planning: Impacts of decommissioning on connectivity in the North Sea Tidbury, H., Taylor, N., van der Molen, J., Garcia, L., Posen, P., Gill, A., Lincoln, S., Judd, A., Hyder, K. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Regional‐scale patterns of deep seafloor biodiversity for conservation assessment O'Hara, T., Williams, A., Althaus, F., Ross, A., Bax, N. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Potential effects of deep seawater discharge by an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plant on the marine microorganisms in oligotrophic waters Giraud, M., Garçon, V., de la Broise, D., L'Helguen, S., Sudre, J., Boyes, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality
Effects from wave power generators on the distribution of two sea pen species on the Swedish west coast Bender, A., Sundberg, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
ScotMER and MREF MASTS Workshop Report Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland Workshop Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Fish densities associated with structural elements of oil and gas platforms in southern California Meyer-Gutbrod, E., Kui, L., Nishimoto, M., Love, M., Schroeder, D., Miller, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish
Volume-Based Assessment of Erosion Patterns around a Hydrodynamic Transparent Offshore Structure Welzel, M., Schendel, A., Schlurmann, T., Hildebrandt, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Guidelines for Providing Benthic Habitat Survey Information for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Report Wind Energy, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Final License Application for the PacWave South Project Oregon State University Report Marine Energy, Wave Entrapment, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Physical Environment, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Navigation
Assessing the impact of introduced infrastructure at sea with cameras: A case study for spatial scale, time and statistical power Bicknell, A., Sheehan, E., Godley, B., Doherty, P., Witt, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
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