Short Science Summary: Offshore Wind Farms as Stepping Stones for Non-indigenous Species

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One of the most important effects of offshore wind farms is the unintentional provision of a new habitat which invariably is rapidly colonized by hard substrate species. Turbine foundations provide hard vertical substrates and, depending on the structure and scour protection used, varying degrees of habitat complexity. These novel surfaces span the full water column from the splash zone to the seafloor, often in areas where comparable natural hard surfaces are absent. Non-indigenous species (NIS) are species that did not occur in a particular geographic region, such as the North Sea, prior to a certain date (e.g., the beginning of the 17th century). They consist of species introduced by human activities outside their natural past or present range (introduced species), and species that spread by their own means (range expanding species) due to rising temperatures or other factors. As ocean sprawl in shallow and coastal waters has favored NIS, there is concern that increasing development of offshore wind farms will accelerate this phenomenon. This summary represents a general overview of the research, produced by WREN under IEA Wind. 

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
The Relationship Between Offshore Wind Farms and Marine Wildlife in Rhode Island Lloyd, H. , Caputo. A., Foley. B., Chadwick. C. , Szamborski, S. 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
Longterm response of offshore wind farms on wintering birds Nielsen, J., Mortensen, M., Yasmin, N., Tjørnløv, R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds
A synthesis review of nature positive approaches and coexistence in the offshore wind industry Pardo, J., Aune, M., Harman, C., Walday, M., Skjellum, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Marine Spatial Planning
Decommissioning of offshore wind farms and its impact on benthic ecology Spielmann, V., Dannheim, J., Brey, T., Coolen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
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
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
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
Field data-based correlation between scour at offshore wind farms (OWFs) and hydrodynamic drivers Ludwig, F. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Vision paper: Decommissioning offshore windparks in the Belgian part of the North Sea Van Maele, T., Desplenter, N., Van Aken, I., Degraer, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions
Offshore wind project-level monitoring in the Northeast U.S. continental shelf ecosystem: evaluating the potential to mitigate impacts to long-term scientific surveys Methratta, E., Lipsky, A., Boucher, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change Fish, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Residency and habitat use of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) within an offshore wind farm Thatcher, H., Stamp, T., Wilcockson, D., Moore, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Scenario studies on potential ecosystem effects in future offshore wind farms in the North Sea Zijl, F., Stendert, L., Leummens, L., Zijker, T., van Kessel, T., van Zelst, V., Jaksic, L., Vilmin, L., Schneider, L., van Duren, 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
Development of a Cumulative Impact Assessment tool for birds in Norwegian Offshore Waters: Trollvind OWF as a case study Layton-Matthews, K., Buckingham, L., Critchley, E., Nilsson, A., Ollus, V., Ballesteros, M., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Dehnhard, N., Fauchald, P., Hanssen, F., Helberg, M, Masden, E., May, R., Sandvik, H., Tarroux, A, Reiertsen, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds
A wind of change for soft-sediment infauna within operational offshore windfarms Lefaible, N., Braeckman, U., Degraer, S., Vanaverbeke, J., Moens, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
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
New insights into the influence of turbines on the behaviour of migrant birds: implications for predicting impacts of offshore wind developments on wildlife Willmott, J., Forcey, G., Vukovich, M. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds
Ocean Wind 1 Construction and Operations Plan Ocean Wind 1 Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions
Offshore Wind Energy and Marine Biodiversity in the North Sea: Life Cycle Impact Assessment for Benthic Communities Li, C., Coolen, J., Scherer, L., Mogollón, J., Braeckman, U., Vanaverbeke, J., Tukker, A., Steubing, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Ornithological and Marine Fauna Aerial Digital Survey: First Semiannual Report Normandeau Associates Inc Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
An integrated conceptual model to characterize the effects of offshore wind farms on ecosystem services Baulaz, Y., Mouchet, M., Niquil, N., Ben Rais Lasram, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Thornton Bank Offshore Wind Farm Annual Report 2022 Magnus, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise, Vessel Strike Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Demersal Fish, Pelagic Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Anholt Offshore Windfarm - Stabilisation of Cable Protection Systems and Cables at Scour Protected Monopile Locations and the Offshore Substation Grindlay, S., Fischer, G. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment
eDNA metabarcoding reveals distinct fish and invertebrate diversity patterns in the shallow and well-mixed Belgian part of the North Sea Cornelis, I., De Backer, A., Vanhollebeke, J., Maes, S., Derycke, S. Presentation Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Impacts of human activities on the supply of marine ecosystem services: A conceptual model for offshore wind farms to aid quantitative assessments Van de Pol, L., Van der Biest, K., Taelman, S. E., De Luca Pena, L., Everaet, G., Hernandez, S., Culhane, F., Borja, A., Heymans, J., Van Hoey, G., Vanaverbeke, J., Meire, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Increased food availability at offshore wind farms affects trophic ecology of plaice Pleuronectes platessa Buyse, J., Hostens, K., Degraer, S., De Troch, M., De Backer, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Physical Environment
Opportunistic Offshore Sighting of a Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) Bort Thornton, J., Richlen, M., McDonald, T., Bell, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
Functional trait responses to different anthropogenic pressures Festjens, F., Buyse, J., De Backer, A., Hostens, K., Lefaible, N., Vanaverbeke, J., Van Hoey, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Data on benthic species assemblages and seafloor sediment characteristics in an offshore windfarm in the southeastern North Sea Teschke, K., Gusky, M., Gutow, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
Supporting National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Offshore Wind Energy Development Related to Glauconite Sand Bruggeman, G., Middleton, P., Barnhart, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Physical Environment
Reconciling climate action with the need for biodiversity protection, restoration and rehabilitation Gorman, C., Torsney, A., Gaughran, A., McKeon, C., Farrell, C., White, C., Donohue, I., Stout, J., Buckley, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Organic matter processing in a [simulated] offshore wind farm ecosystem in current and future climate and aquaculture scenarios Voet, H., Vlaminck, E., van Colen, C., Bodé, S. , Boeckx, P., Degraer, S., Moens, T., Vanaverbeke, J., Braeckman, U. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Human Dimensions
Offshore wind farm construction is noisy – but gadgets used to protect marine mammals are working Graham, I. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change, Noise
Evidence that offshore wind farms might affect marine sediment quality and microbial communities Wang, T., Ru, X., Deng, B., Zhang, C., Wang, X., Yang, B., Zhang, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Environmental assessment of proposed areas for offshore wind farms off southern Brazil based on ecological niche modeling and a species richness index for albatrosses and petrels Lemos, C., Hernandez, M., Vilardo, C., Phillips, R., Bugoni, L., Sousa-Pinto, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Progressive Insights in Changing Species Distribution Patterns Informing Marine Management Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B., Vigin, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Supporting National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Offshore Wind Energy Development Related to Heat from Buried Transmission Cables Middleton, P., Barnhart, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Physical Environment
Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Farms in the Belgian Part of the North Sea: Getting ready for offshore wind farm expansion in the North Sea Degraer, S., Brabant, R., Rumes, B., Vigin, L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Probabilistic Assessment and Comparison of Scour Protections at Horns Rev 3 and Egmond aan Zee Offshore Wind Farms Chambel, J., Fazeres-Ferradosa, T., Figueiredo, R., Rosa-Santos, P., Taveira-Pinto, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
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