Publication Date:
2017-09-30
Description:
Offshore marine renewables energy developments (MREDs), particularly in the light of
extensive offshore wind farm development in shallow shelf seas, are expected to affect the
structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. Several activities linked to the installation
and operation of MREDs each have their differential impacts onto the ecosystem. The benthos
plays key roles in the ecosystem, supporting numerous ecosystem goods and services such as
long-term carbon storage and food resources for higher trophic groups (e.g. fish, birds,
mammals and including humans). Development of MREDs will initiate processes which are
expected to affect benthic assemblages over various, currently unknown, spatial and temporal
scales.
This work provides a structured overview of ecological cause-effect relationships related to
MREDs, based on a set of hypothesis-driven pathways supported by literature (〉230
publications reviewed). Furthermore, this work evaluated the sensitivity of benthic causeeffect
relationships to potential effects of MREDs on different spatial and temporal scales and
weighted the assessment by confidence in existing knowledge and the consistency of effects
among habitats.
The outcomes allowed identification of knowledge gaps about ecological processes, in order
to prioritize the ‘known-unknowns’ and highlight priority research areas. Our results suggest
that the sensitivity of the benthos to MREDs is much higher than previously indicated,
particularly where cascading effects lead to changes in ecological functioning. Filling existing
knowledge gaps and understanding ecological processes and patterns occurring at low-trophic
levels, including those within the benthos, are essential to maintain ecological integrity key to
the ecosystem and to society even under MREDs developments.
Repository Name:
EPIC Alfred Wegener Institut
Type:
Conference
,
notRev
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