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: 1362
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
The Development of Benthic Communities on Hard Substrates within OWEZ, the First Dutch Offshore Wind Farm Noordzee Wind Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Assessing the Sensitivity of Seabird Populations to Adverse Effects from Tidal Stream Turbines and Wave Energy Devices Furness, R., Wade, H., Robbins, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
International importance of Extremadura, Spain, for overwintering migratory dabbling ducks: a role for reservoirs Navedo, J., Masero, J., Sanchez-Guzman, J. Journal Article Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Direct human-caused mortality of birds: improving quantification of magnitude and assessment of population impact Loss, S., Will, T., Marra, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision Birds
Some Clouds Have a Silver Lining: Paradoxes of Anthropogenic Perturbations from Study Cases on Long-Lived Social Birds Oro, D., Jimenez, J., Curco, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
The Effect of Wind Power on Birds and Bats - A Synthesis Rydell, J., Engstrom, H., Hedenstrom, A. Report Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Science Review of Artificial Reefs Broughton, K. Report Habitat Change
Topography drives migratory flight altitude of golden eagles: implications for on-shore wind energy development Katzner, T., Brandes, D., Miller, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds
Wind and Wildlife in the Northern Great Plains: Identifying Low-Impact Areas for Wind Development Fargione, J., Kiesecker, J., Slaats, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Corrigendum: Environmental implications of large-scale adoption of wind power: a scenario-based life cycle assessment Arvesen, A., Hertwich, E. Journal Article Wind Energy Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Short- and Long-Term Effects of an Offshore Wind Farm on Three Species of Sandeel and their Sand Habitat van Deurs, M., Grome, T., Kaspersen, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Study on the Marine Growth Effect on the Dynamic Response of Offshore Wind Turbines Shi, W., Park, H., Baek, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Building Capacity for Marine Hydrokinetic Energy: Atlas of Potential Synergistic and Conflicting Environmental, Ecological, and Human Use Considerations Dubbs, L., Voss, C., Von Korff, B. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current, Tidal, Wave Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Human Dimensions
Synthesis of Wind Energy Development and Potential Impacts on Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington Mockrin, M., Gravenmier, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision
Avian and Bat Protection Plan for the Buckeye Wind Power Project Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Seabirds & Offshore Wind Farms Monitoring Results 2011 Vanermen, N., Stienen, E., Onkelinx, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds
Nesting Success of Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus forficatus) at a Wind Farm in Northern Texas Rubenstahl, T., Hale, A., Karsten, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Passerines, Birds
Nesting Ecology of a Population of Gopherus agassizii at a Utility-Scale Wind Energy Facility in Southern California Ennen, J., Lovich, J., Meyer, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Reptiles
Report of the IWG on Wind Turbines and Bat Populations 2012 Rodrigues, L. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats
Annual environmental report 2011 – Belwind phase 1 Belwind Report Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Pre-Construction Avian and Bat Survey Report Tetra Tech Inc. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Physical Environment
Offshore Wind Power Reef Effects and Reef Fauna Roles Krone, R. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Pilot Marine Spatial Plan for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Turnbull, S. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Marine Bird Distribution Along the Oregon Coast Suryan, R., Phillips, E., So, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Seabirds, Birds
Wind Energy Plants and Possible Effects on Samandağ Sea Turtles Yalçın-Özdilek, S., Yalçın, S. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Reptiles
Visual preferences for wind turbines: Location, numbers and respondent characteristics Molnarova, K., Sklenicka, P., Stiborek, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Use and Population Demographics at the Simpson Ridge Wind Resource Area, Carbon County, Wyoming Johnson, G., LeBeau, C., Nielsen, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
A Bayesian approach to habitat suitability prediction Lockett, D. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Terrestrial Mammals, Human Dimensions
Greater impacts of wind farms on bird populations during construction than subsequent operation: results of a multi-site and multi-species analysis Pearce-Higgins, J., Stephen, L., Douse, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Birds
Griffon Vulture Mortality at Wind Farms in Southern Spain: Distribution of Fatalities and Active Mitigation Measures de Lucas, M., Ferrer, M., Bechard, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision, Avoidance Raptors, Birds
Putting Aeolus to work without the death toll: federal wind farm siting guidelines can mitigate avian and Chiropteran mortality Mensing, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Best Management Practices for siting, developing, operating, and monitoring renewable energy in the Intermountain West: A Conservationist's Guide Jones, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Terrestrial Mammals, Raptors, Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds, Bats
Strategic Impact Assessment of Offshore Windpower in Norway - Impacts on Seabirds Lorensten, S., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Follestad, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
How do diurnal long-distance migrants select flight altitude in relation to wind? Mateos-Rodriguez, M., Liechti, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Shorebirds, Raptors, Passerines, Birds
Siting Study for a Hydrokinetic Energy Project Located Offshore Southeastern Florida: Protocols for Survey Methodology for Offshore Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Projects Dehlsen Associates Report Marine Energy Habitat Change Physical Environment, Invertebrates
Evidence of Latitudinal Migration in Tri-colored Bats, Perimyotis subflavus Fraser, E., McGuire, L., Eger, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
Avian Collision Mortality at 50- and 60- m Guyed Towers in Central California Kerlinger, P., Guarnaccia, J., Hasch, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Passerines
Draft Black Oak & Getty Wind Avian and Bat Protection Plan Black Oak Wind, Getty Wind Company Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Vulnerability of Scottish Seabirds to Offshore Wind Turbines Furness, B., Wade, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Waterfowl
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