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
Field Experiments on the Attraction of Pelagic Fish to Floating Objects Hunter, J., Mitchell, C. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Assessment and Control of OTEC Physical Environmental Impacts Ditmars, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Habitat Change Physical Environment
Assessment and Control of OTEC Ecological Impacts Wilde, P., Sandusky, J., Jassby, A. Report OTEC, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Chemicals Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions
The Potential Environmental Consequences of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Plants Walsh, J. Workshop Article Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Water Quality
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Final Environmental Impact Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Report Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Evaluating the Coastal Environment for Marine Birds Wanless, S., Bacon, P., Harris, M., Webb, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment
A General Theory on Fish Aggregation to Floating Objects: An Alternative to the Meeting Point Hypothesis Castro, J., Santiago, J., Santana-Ortega, A. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Homing of Pelagic Fish to Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs): The Role of Sensory Cues Dempster, T., Kingsford, M. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Marine Fish Assemblages Associated with Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs): Effects of Fish Removal, FAD Size, Fouling Communities, and Prior Recruits Nelson, P. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Fish Aggregation Device (FAD) Research: Gaps in Current Knowledge and Future Directions for Ecological Studies Dempster, T., Taquet, M. Journal Article Marine Energy Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Fish in the littoral zone: ecology, threats and management Winfield, I. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish
Shallow Moving Structures Promote Marine Invader Dominance Dafforn, K., Johnston, E., Glasby, T. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
The Ecosystem Consequences of Sediment Disturbance Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Temporal Variability of Pelagic Fish Assemblages around Fish Aggregation Devices: Biological and Physical Influences Dempster, T. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish, Pelagic Fish
Artificial Marine Structures Facilitate the Spread of a Non-Indigenous Green Algae Bulleri, F., Airoldi, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Simulation-Based Investigations of Fishery Changes as Affected by the Scale and Design of Artificial Habitats Sayer, M., Magill, S., Pitcher, T., Morissette, L., Ainsworth, C. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The Development and Use of Individuals-Based Models to Predict the Effects of Habitat Loss and Disturbance on Waders and Waterfowl West, A., Caldow, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Birds
Tidal Barrages and Birds Clark, N. Journal Article Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Displacement Birds
Worldwide Synthesis and Analysis of Existing Information Regarding Environmental Effects of Alternative Energy Uses on the Outer Continental Shelf Michel, J., Dunagan, H., Boring, C., Healy, E., Evans, W., Dean, J., McGillis, A., Hain, J. Report Wind Energy, Wave, OTEC, Fixed Offshore Wind, Ocean Current, Marine Energy Habitat Change
Wave power devices as artificial reefs Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Colonization of an Artificial Hard Substrate by Mytilus edulis in the German Bight Joschko, T., Buck, B., Gutow, L., Schröder, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Aspects of Offshore Renewable Energy and the Alterations of Marine Habitats Wilhelmsson, D. Thesis Wind Energy, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Wave Energy and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics Langhamer, O. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Epibenthic colonization of concrete and steel pilings in a cold-temperate embayment: a field experiment Andersson, M., Berggren, M., Wilhelmsson, D., Öhman, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
Artificial Reef Effect and Fouling Impacts on Offshore Wave Power Foundations and Buoys - A Pilot Study Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D., Engström, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Development of Invertebrate Assemblages and Fish on Offshore Wave Power Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D., Engström, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Colonization of Blue Mussels (Mytilus Edulis) on Offshore Wave Power Installations Langhamer, O. Report Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Colonisation of Fish and Crabs of Wave Energy Foundations and the Effects of Manufactured Holes - A Field Experiment Langhamer, O., Wilhelmsson, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
Wave Energy Conversion and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics Langhamer, O. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Advanced Anchoring and Mooring Study Sound and Sea Technologies Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change
Electrical power generation from ocean currents in the Straits of Florida: Some environmental considerations Finkl, C., Charlier, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Ocean Current EMF, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of Offshore Wind and Marine Renewable Energy in Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Passerines, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Climate Change, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
The Effects of Landscape Modifications on the Long-Term Persistence of Animal Populations Nabe-Nielsen, J., Sibly, R., Forchhammer, M., Forbes, V., Topping, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Screening for Biofouling and Corrosion of Tidal Energy Device Materials: In-Situ Results for Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington Polagye, B., Thomson, J. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change
Pre-installation ROV survey of proposed development site in Falls of Warness test area Runciman, D. Report Marine Energy Habitat Change
Effects Of Wave Energy Converters On The Surrounding Soft-bottom Macrofauna (west Coast Of Sweden) Langhamer, O. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
The emergence of a new marine renewable energy industry – what are the implications for fisheries? Bell, M., Side, J., Kerr, S., Johnson, K., Baston, S., Bullen, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries
Marine Megavertebrates and Fishery Resources in the Nantucket Sound – Muskeget Channel Area: Assessing Impacts of Marine Renewable Energy Installations on Marine Megavertebrates - Recommendations for the Proposed Muskeget Channel Tidal Energy Project Leeney, R., Nichols, O., Sette, L., LaFond, S., Hughes, P. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Sea Turtles
Final Pilot License Application Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project Appendix B: Safeguard Plans Ocean Renewable Power Company Report Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Environmental Assessment Project Adonizio, M., Smith, R. Report Tidal, Marine Energy Habitat Change, Collision Fish
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