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

Affiliated Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Total results: 1357
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Primary vs grey: A critical evaluation of literature sources used to assess the impacts of offshore wind farms Szostek, C., Edwards-Jones, A., Beaumont, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change, Vessel Strike Bats, Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Offshore Wind Facts: Fish and Invertebrates Special Initiative on Offshore Wind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Fish, Invertebrates
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
Spatial Trade-Offs in National Land-Based Wind Power Production in Times of Biodiversity and Climate Crises Grimsrud, K., Hagem, C., Haaskjold, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Offshore wind energy and fisheries: Sustainable development goals, enterprise practices, and fishermen's perspectives Lin, C., Lee, H., Hsu, T. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts Ashraf, U., Morelli, T., Smith, A. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change
Conditions for sustainable decommissioning of offshore wind turbines Kelder, M., van Pelt, A., van Megen, O. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
What are the potential effects of offshore wind farms on coastal fish and their essential habitats? Henry, S., Couturier, L., Darnaude, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish
Towards sustainable decommissioning: The importance of lifespan extension and standardisation Natuur & Milieu Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Wind energy development can lead to guild-specific habitat loss in boreal forest bats McKay, R., Johns, S., Bischof, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
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
Conditions for nature friendly and circular decommissioning Natuur & Milieu Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
New England Wind Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Using remote-sensing data to study the rapid growth of wind farms and their impact on bird habitat in Yellow Sea Wetland, China Zheng, Y., Wu, J., Sheviakina, N. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds
From Science to Consenting: Applying Environmental Effects Information to Support Regulatory Decision-Making Freeman, M., Copping, A., Rose, D. Presentation Marine Energy Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Investigating displacement of marine animals as a potential effect of marine renewable energy development Hemery, L., Garavelli, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Assessment of ocean energy systems as a source of energy for a proposed aquaculture ecosystem in Guam Peralta, F. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Feasibility of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Development for U.S. Islands Copping, A., Farr, H. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC Chemicals, Displacement, Entanglement, Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Improving Understanding of Environmental Effects from Single MRE Devices to Arrays Hasselman, D., Hemery, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
Developing expert scientific consensus on the environmental and societal effects of marine artificial structures prior to decommissioning Knights, A., Lemasson, A., Firth, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
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
Settlement success of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) on different types of hard substrate to support reef development in offshore wind farms ter Hofstede, R., Witte, S., Kamermans, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Localized Eco-Climatic Impacts of Onshore Wind Farms: A Review Ze, J., Xiuchun, Y., Ang, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Physical Environment
Shetland Tidal Array Project Environmental Monitoring Plan (PEMP) Smith, K. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Chemicals, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals
Using fisheries-dependent data to investigate landings of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) within an offshore wind farm Thatcher, H., Stamp, T., Moore, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, 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
EVALUATING SOIL STIFFNESS FOR COASTAL VIRGINIA OFFSHORE WIND RESEARCH PROJECT MONOPILE FOUNDATIONS Price, K. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Ectoparasitism and Energy Infrastructure Limit Survival of Preadult Golden Eagles in the Southern Great Plains Murphy, R., Millsap, B., Stahlecker, D. Journal Article Wind Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Remotely sensed evidence of the divergent climate impacts of wind farms on croplands and grasslands Liu, N., Zhao, X., Zhang, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
‘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. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise
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
Assessing the Use of Long-Term Lek Survey Data to Evaluate the Effect of Landscape Characteristics and Wind Facilities on Sharp Tailed Grouse Lek Dynamics in North Dakota and South Dakota Shaffer, J., Buhl, D., Newton, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds
Ecosystem indicators: predicting population responses to combined climate and anthropogenic changes in shallow seas Trifonova, N., Scott, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
A synthesis review of nature positive approaches and coexistence in the offshore wind industry Pardo, J., Aune, M., Harman, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Occupancy model to unveil wildlife utilization at Yeongyang-gun wind farm management road, Korea Kim, S-H., Dhakal, T., Yoon, T-G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Terrestrial Mammals
Decommissioning of offshore wind farms and its impact on benthic ecology Spielmann, V., Dannheim, J., Brey, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Waterbodies thermal energy based systems interactions with marine environment — A review Bordbar, A., Georgoulas, K., Dai, Y. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Exploration of potential collaboration on preventive, mitigation and compensation measures van der Kamp, M., Brekelmans, M., Verweij, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
The overlooked threat of land take from wind energy infrastructures: Quantification, drivers and policy gaps Kati, V., Kassara, C., Panagos, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind 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. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Displaying 81 - 120 of 1357 results