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
Development of Spatial Information Layers for Commercial Fishing and Shellfishing in UK Waters to Support Strategic Siting of Offshore Windfarms Dunstone, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Impact of Wind Power Plants on Black Grouse, Lyrurus tetrix in Alpine Regions Zeiler, H., Grunschachner-Berger, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds
An immersive path-based study of wind turbines' landscape: A French case in Plouguin Jallouli, J., Moreau, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Visual Impacts
It's Not Easy Being Green: Wind Energy and a Declining Grassland Bird Pruett, C., Patten, M., Wolfe, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Avoidance Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds
The Habitat-Creation Potential of Offshore Wind Farms Elliott, M., Wilson, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
The Value of a Net-Cage as a Fish Aggregating Device in Southern California Oakes, C., Pondella, D. Journal Article Habitat Change, Attraction Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions, Fish
Using probability of occurrence to assess potential interaction between wind farms and a residual population of golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos in NW Spain Tapia, L., Dominguez, J., Rodriguez, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Raptors
Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem Doney, S., Fabry, V., Feely, R. Journal Article Chemicals, Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Wave Energy and the Marine Environment: Colonization Patterns and Habitat Dynamics Langhamer, O. Thesis Wave, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates, Fish
Impacts of Wind Farms on Birds: A Review Powlesland, R. Report Wind Energy Habitat Change Birds
Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: State of the Art After Two Years of Environmental Monitoring Degraer, S., Brabant, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Atlantic Coast Diadromous Fish Habitat: A Review of Utilization, Threats, Recommendations for Conservation, and Research Needs Greene, K., Zimmerman, J., Laney, R. Report Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
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
Early colonisation of a concrete offshore windmill foundation by marine biofouling on the Thornton Bank (southern North Sea) Kerckhof, F., Norro, A., Jacques, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) Lorraine, R., Tremlett, C. Research Study Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm Turbine Foundation Faunal Colonisation Diving Survey Fugro EMU Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Animal Behavioral Adaptation to Changing Landscapes: Spring-Staging Geese Habituate to Wind Farms Madsen, J., Boertmann, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Minimal effects of wind turbines on the distribution of wintering farmland birds Devereux, C., Denny, M., Whittingham, M. Journal Article Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds
Colonization of an Artificial Hard Substrate by Mytilus edulis in the German Bight Joschko, T., Buck, B., Gutow, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: Iberdrola Renewables Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Hard Coastal-Defence Structures as Habitats for Native and Exotic Rocky-Bottom Species Vaselli, S., Bulleri, F., Benedetti-Cecchi, L. Journal Article Habitat Change Invertebrates
Horns Rev II Offshore Wind Farm Monitoring of Migrating Waterbirds Piper, W., Kulik, G., Durinck, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Oregon Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Wind Energy: Siting and Permitting Guidelines Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Taskforce Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Spatial Overlap of Wind Farms on Peatland with Sensitive Areas for Birds Bright, J., Langston, R., Pearce-Higgins, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds
Fouling Assemblages on Offshore Wind Power Plants and Adjacent Substrata Wilhelmsson, D., Malm, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Horns Rev II Offshore Wind Farm Food Basis for Common Scoter Skov, H., Durinck, J., Erichsen, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Ecosystem Processes, Birds
Wind Farms and Mires in the Basque Country and North-West Navarra, Spain Heras, P., Infante, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change
Avian Issues for Offshore Wind Development Allison, T., Jedrey, E., Perkins, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Rhyl Flats Wind Farm: Environmental Management Plan (Version 2.2) npower renewables Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise
Assessing the Impact of Wind Farms on the Plant Diversity of Blanket Bogs in the Xistral Mountains (NW Spain) Fraga, M., Romero-Pedeira, D., Souto, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Wind Power Company Compliance with Mitigation Plans in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
Fish Assemblages Associated with Urban Structures and Natural Reefs in Sydney, Australia Clynick, B., Chapman, M., Underwood, A. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish
Effect Studies Offshore Wind Farm Egmond aan Zee: Progress Report on Fluxes and Behaviour of Flying Birds Krijgsveld, K., Fijn, R., Heunks, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds
Ecological Risk as a Tool for Evaluating the Effects of Offshore Wind Farm Construction in the North Sea Nunneri, C., Lenhart, J., Burkhard, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Water Quality
The effect of predation on artificial reef juvenile demersal fish species Leitão, F., Santos, M., Erzini, K. Journal Article Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Populationsdynamik von kommerziell genutzten Fischarten in (durch Offshore- Windkraftanlagen) veränderter Ökosystemstruktur Diembeck, D. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish
Review of the Reef Effects of Offshore Wind Farm Structures and their Potential for Enhancement and Mitigation UK Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable to the Offshore Wind Farm Industry UK Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Probability of Impact Workshop National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Robin Rigg Monitoring Cable Route Benthic Macro-Invertebrate Data Reports: 2007-2011 Entec Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Displaying 1161 - 1200 of 1357 results