Short Science Summary: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Marine Habitat

Potential Environmental Effects on Habitats from Marine Renewable Energy: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

Most marine renewable energy (MRE) devices must be attached to the seafloor in some way, either by gravity foundations, pilings, or anchors, and many will also have transmission cables on the seabed, and mooring lines, as well as the devices themselves in the water column. Physical changes in benthic and pelagic habitats have the potential to alter where species live and how common they are at a site, and they may lead to habitat loss, provide opportunities for non-native species to become established, alter ecological patterns, modify ecosystem functions and the services the ecosystem provides, and affect the behavior of many marine organisms.

This Short Science Summary was developed based on the OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report: Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development Around the World, specifically Chapter 6: Changes in Benthic and Pelagic Habitats Caused by Marine Renewable Energy Devices.

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
Activity-footprints, pressures-footprints and effects-footprints-Walking the pathway to determining and managing human impacts in the sea Elliott, M., Borja, A., Cormier, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Risk Retirement for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Copping, A., Freeman, M., Overhus, D. Report Marine Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Seabirds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Ecological best practice in decommissioning: a review of scientific research Fortune, I., Paterson, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Development of epibenthic assemblages on artificial habitat associated with marine renewable infrastructure Sheehan, E., Cartwright, A., Witt, M., Attrill, M., Vural, M., Holmes, L. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Review of Available Models for Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Buenau, K., Garavelli, L., Hemery, L., Garcia Medina, G. , Hibler, L. Report Marine Energy Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Mapping of Benthic Habitats at Marine Renewable Energy Sites Using Multibeam Echosounder and Sediment Profile Imaging Technologies Revelas, E., Sackmann, B., Maher, N., Jones, C. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Science in support of ecologically sound decommissioning strategies for offshore man-made structures: taking stock of current knowledge and considering future challenges Birchenough, S., Degraer, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Initial Environmental Report for the ELEMENT Project Gaborieau, H., Thiébaut, M., Quillienn, N., Serre, S., Araignous, E., Safi, G. Report Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Underwater Visual Records of Marine Megafauna Around Offshore Anthropogenic Structures Todd, V., Lazar, L., Williamson, L., Peters, I., Hoover, A., Cox, S., Todd, I., Macreadie, P., McLean, D. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Reptiles
National Environmental Policy Act Documentation for Impact-Producing Factors in the Offshore Wind Cumulative Impacts Scenario on the South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Environmental Justice, Fisheries, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Accumulating Biofouling - and Knowledge Navarrete, S., Parragué, M., Osiadacz, N., Rojas, F., Bonicelli, J., Fernández, M., Arboleda-Baena, C., Finke, R., Baldanzi, S. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Social network analysis as a tool for marine spatial planning: Impacts of decommissioning on connectivity in the North Sea Tidbury, H., Taylor, N., van der Molen, J., Garcia, L., Posen, P., Gill, A., Lincoln, S., Judd, A., Hyder, K. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Regional‐scale patterns of deep seafloor biodiversity for conservation assessment O'Hara, T., Williams, A., Althaus, F., Ross, A., Bax, N. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Vertical Distribution of Juvenile Salmon in a Large Turbid River Jump, S., Courtney, M., Seitz, A. Journal Article Marine Energy, Riverine Collision, Habitat Change Fish
Effects from wave power generators on the distribution of two sea pen species on the Swedish west coast Bender, A., Sundberg, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
SEA Wave D2.3 Environmental Demonstration Strategy Fox, J. Report Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change, Noise Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
ScotMER and MREF MASTS Workshop Report Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland Workshop Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Fish densities associated with structural elements of oil and gas platforms in southern California Meyer-Gutbrod, E., Kui, L., Nishimoto, M., Love, M., Schroeder, D., Miller, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Fish
Guidelines for Providing Benthic Habitat Survey Information for Renewable Energy Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
SEA Wave D2.2 Critical analysis of environmental mitigation and monitoring strategies Fox, J. Report Marine Energy, Wave Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Lighting, Noise Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Final License Application for the PacWave South Project Oregon State University Report Marine Energy, Wave Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy, Navigation
Assessing the impact of introduced infrastructure at sea with cameras: A case study for spatial scale, time and statistical power Bicknell, A., Sheehan, E., Godley, B., Doherty, P., Witt, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
Understanding the Role of Offshore Structures in Managing Potential Watersipora Invasions Page, H., Dugan, J., Miller, R., Simons, R., Viola, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
From ocean sprawl to blue-green infrastructure – A UK perspective on an issue of global significance Evans, A., Firth, L., Hawkins, S., Hall, A., Ironside, J., Thompson, R., Moore, P. Journal Article Marine Energy Habitat Change Marine Spatial Planning, Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Biodiversity Characterisation of Fouling Communities and Their Hydrodynamic Consequences on Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure in the UK Want, A., Harris, R., Porter, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Power Take-Off System for a Subsea Tidal Kite D6.2 - Environmental Impact Report Kregting, L., Schmitt, P., Lieber, L., Culloch, R., Horne, N., Smyth, A. Report Marine Energy, Ocean Current Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Multi-platform studies of the MeyGen tidal energy site – using UAVs to measure animal distributions and hydrodynamic features Williamson, B., Fraser, S., McIlvenny, J., Couto, A., Chapman, J., Wade, H., Martin, J., Wilson, J., Evans, T., Hunter, D., Fenn, S., Culloch, R., Tait, A., Chimienti, M., Edwards, E., Williamson, L., Davies, I., Scott, B. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change
Bibliographical Atlas of Biofouling Along the French Coasts in the Context of Offshore Renewable Energy Quillienn, N., Lejart, M., Damblans, G. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Connectivity of larval stages of sedentary marine communities between hard substrates and offshore structures in the North Sea van der Molen, J., García-García, L., Whomersley, P., Callaway, A., Posen, P., Hyder, K. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes
Effects of Wave Energy Generators on Nephrops norvegicus Bender, A., Sunberg, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave Habitat Change Invertebrates
Creation of microhabitats (tidepools) in ripraps with climax communities as a way to mitigate negative effects of artificial substrate on marine biodiversity Ostale-Valriberas, E., Sempere-Valverde, J., Coppa, S., Garcia-Gomez, J., Espinosa, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Ocean sprawl facilitates dispersal and connectivity of protected species Henry, L., Mayorga-Adame, C., Fox, A., Polton, J., Ferris, J., McLellan, F., McCabe, C., Kutti, T., Roberts, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Oceanographic and biological influences on recruitment of benthic invertebrates to hard substrata on the Oregon shelf Meyer, K., Li, Y., Young, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Marine Spatial Planning and Marine Renewables: Linking Concepts for Implementation. A Case Study from Scotland MacDonald, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Anthropogenic disturbance facilitates a non-native species on offshore oil platforms Viola, S., Page, H., Zaleski, S., Miller, R., Doheny, B., Dugan, J., Schroeder, D., Schroeter, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Contributions of marine infrastructures to marine planning and protected area networking Shabtay, A., Portman, M., Carmel, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Marine Spatial Planning, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
The Ornithodolite as a tool to quantify animal space use and habitat selection: a case study with birds diving in tidal waters Cole, E., Waggitt, J., Hedenstrom, A., Piano, M., Holton, M., Borger, L., Shepard, E. Journal Article Marine Energy Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds
Local scour around a model hydrokinetic turbine in an erodible channel Hill, C., Musa, M., Chamorro, L., Ellis, C., Guala, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Habitat Change Physical Environment
Optimisation of an underwater imagery analysis method to characterise the reef effect caused by submarine power cables on epibenthic communities Taormina, B., Lejart, M., Thiesse, E., Carlier, A., Desroy, N. Presentation Marine Energy Habitat Change Invertebrates
Predictive model for local scour downstream of hydrokinetic turbines in erodible channels Musa, M., Heisel, M., Guala, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment
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