Ecosystem Processes

The physical, chemical, and biological processes that link organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem processes are the physical, chemical, and biological processes that link organisms and their environment. These may include biogeochemical/nutrient cycling, energy flow, and food web dynamics. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. It can be broken down further into categories such as an aquatic ecosystem which involves a body of water, or even further to marine ecosystem or freshwater ecosystem.

Organisms feed off one another in a balanced food chain, but small changes to the seascape may significantly impact the existing balance. By just impacting one population, the effects may propagate to all other species in the area, potentially leading to overpopulation, decimation, habitat changes, changes in the nutrient cycle, energy flow, resource availability, etc. As offshore wind and marine renewable energy devices enter the water, any stressor could alter the flow of energy or physical environment enough to upset the balance of the ecosystem. However, the particular concerns are changes in flow and impacts on water quality.

Photo Credit: NOAA

Affiliated Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Total results: 421
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Impacts of offshore wind farms in the English Channel on larval dispersal and connectivity of benthic species using numerical modeling Ajmi, S., Boutet, M., Bennis, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Guidance for Monitoring and Reporting of Underwater Noise Chumbinho, R. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy Noise Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Offshore wind farms could impact coastal marine heatwaves in eastern boundary upwelling systems Dalsin, M., Walter, R., Mazzini, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture Watson, G., Banfield, G. , Watson, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Chemicals Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico: Compilation of Educational Research Briefs [Booklet] Severy, M., Farr, H., Richlen, M. Summary Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Floating Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure Nielsen, K., Robertson, B., Sierman, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
Effects of Offshore Wind Farms: Environmental and Social Perspectives from Uruguay Forastiero, M., Gutierrez, R., Weschenfelder, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions
Marine infrastructure support fewer producers and more filter feeders than natural habitats: a review and meta-analysis McKibbin, O., Verges, A., Pottier, P. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Avoidance & Minimisation of Environmental Impacts from Offshore Wind & Grid Infrastructure Offshore Coalition For Energy & Nature (OCEaN) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
NMFS West Coast Offshore Wind Energy Strategic Science Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
OES-Environmental 2024 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World OES-Environmental Report Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement
2024 State of the Science Report - Chapter 3: Marine Renewable Energy: Stressor-Receptor Interactions Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Rose, D. Report Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles
Musseling through: Mytilus byssal thread production is unaffected by continuous noise Wang, S., Ellrich, J., Beermann, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes
Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Maine Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), US Department of the Interior (DOI) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement
Evaluating the Impacts of Offshore Wind‬ Development on Marine Ecosystems‬ ‭ King, C. Thesis Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Entanglement, Noise, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
The Potential Environmental Impacts of Floating Offshore Wind in California California Ocean Science Trust Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
Offshore Wind Facts: Coastal and Marine Habitats Special Initiative on Offshore Wind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Thornton Bank Offshore Wind Farm Annual Report 2023 Magnus, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Observational and Modeling Approaches for Assessing Impacts of Offshore Wind Development on California Current Upwelling: Workshop Summary Kojima, A., Kilpatrick, T., Jacox, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes
Offshore wind energy potential along the Indian Coast considering ecological safeguards Bonthu, S., Purvaja, R., Singh, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Deepwater Atlantic Habitats II: Continued Atlantic Research and Exploration in Deepwater Ecosystems with Focus on Coral, Canyon, and Seep Communities Cordes, E., Demopoulos, A., Bernard, B. Report Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Potential environmental effects of marine renewable energy in tropical and subtropical ecosystems Garavelli, L., Farr, H., Hemery, L. Conference Paper Marine Energy Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Bilan annuel 2023 des études environnementales sur le parc éolien en mer de Saint-Nazaire Parc eolien en mer de St Nazaire Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
The Relationship Between Offshore Wind Farms and Marine Wildlife in Rhode Island Lloyd, H. , Caputo. A., Foley. B. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
Observed impacts of large wind farms on grassland carbon cycling Wu, D., Grodsky, S., Xu, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Estuarine Particles Simulations: the Connection Between Delaware Bay and Offshore Wind Lease Areas Li, Y., Lopez, A., Bemis, K. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Overlap between the Mid-Atlantic Bight Cold Pool and offshore wind lease areas Horwitz, R., Miles, T., Munroe, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Numerical Study of Turbulent Wake of Offshore Wind Turbines and Retention Time of Larval Dispersion Ajmi, S., Boutet, M., Bennis, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Cordes, E., Demopoulos, A., Davies, A. Journal Article Ecosystem Processes
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part B) Odinga, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
Potential Hydrodynamic Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Nantucket Shoals Regional Ecology: An Evaluation from Wind to Whales National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Quick scan of effects from large upscaling of offshore wind (part C) Quee, N. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Vision paper: Decommissioning offshore windparks in the Belgian part of the North Sea Van Maele, T., Desplenter, N., Van Aken, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Scenario studies on potential ecosystem effects in future offshore wind farms in the North Sea Zijl, F., Stendert, L., Leummens, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality
Annual environmental report 2022 – Belwind Belwind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental benthos survey, Hywind Scotland Moskeland, T. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Setting EU Threshold Values for impulsive underwater sound Sigray, P., Andersson, M., André, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals
The effect of offshore windfarms on hyperbenthic communities in the Belgian Part of the North Sea Vansteelandt, M. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Energy and Marine Biodiversity in the North Sea: Life Cycle Impact Assessment for Benthic Communities Li, C., Coolen, J., Scherer, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Projected cross-shore changes in upwelling induced by offshore wind farm development along the California coast Raghukumar, K., Nelson, T., Jacox, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Displaying 1 - 40 of 421 results