Greening Blue Energy - BioTools For Business

Legend: Green and red concentric rings
indicate positive and negative influences
respectively on species abundance.
5 m radius:
Artificial reef effects with enhanced biomass
of blue mussels, decapods (e.g. crabs
and lobsters) and bottom dwelling fish
(Wilhelmsson et al. 2006, Wilhelmsson &
Malm 2008, Maar et al. 2009).
20 m radius:
Depletion of phytoplankton by high densities
of filtrating organisms (i.e. mussels)
on and around the turbine could adversely
affect growth of filtrators on the seabed
(e.g. Maar et al. 2009).
40 m radius:
Input of organic material from organisms
associated with the turbines, as well as
entrapment of material by the turbines,
could enrich the seabed and enhance the
abundances of deposit-feeding organisms,
and in turn increase the abundance of
their predators on these (e.g. Kellison &
Sedberry 1998, Bray et al. 1981, Maar et
al. 2009)
100 m radius:
Predation by fish and crabs associated with
the turbines could negatively affect the
abundances of prey species (Davis et al.
1982, Kurz 1995, Jordan et al. 2005)
Figure 3. Schematic overview of some theoretical factors influencing wildlife, and radii of
impact, during operation of offshore wind turbines. © C. Wilhelmsson
400 m radius:
An artificial reef (here turbine and scour protection)
can enhance abundances of pelagic fish
species, and attract flatfishes to the reef, within
this radius (e.g. Grove et al. 1991, Fayram & De Risi
2007).
600 m radius:
Diving seabirds have been shown to avoid turbines
at a larger distance than this (e.g. Stewart et al.
2007, Larsen & Guillemette 2007)
Identifying and managing biodiversity risks and opportunities of offshore renewable energy - GREENING BLUE ENERGY 45