Back to Search Start Over

A wind of change for soft-sediment infauna within operational offshore windfarms.

Authors :
Lefaible, Nene
Braeckman, Ulrike
Degraer, Steven
Vanaverbeke, Jan
Moens, Tom
Source :
Marine Environmental Research. Jun2023, Vol. 188, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

In this study, "artificial reef" (AR) impacts of offshore windfarms (OWFs) on the surrounding soft-sediments were investigated. Benthic grab samples were collected at nearby (37.5 m) and distant (500 or 350 m) positions from turbines of two Belgian OWFs (Belwind: monopiles and C-Power: jackets). Higher macrobenthos abundance and species richness were found nearby jacket foundations of C-Power compared to distant positions and differences were most pronounced within deeper sediments (i.e., gullies between sandbanks) at intermediate levels of fine sand fractions (10–20%) and total organic matter (0.5–0.9%). Strong benthic enrichment (>1000 ind. m−2, >20 spp. sample−1) was also linked with higher fine sand fractions (>20%) near the jackets. Moreover, nearby sediments showed higher occurrences of coastal species and habitat diversification was promoted by Mytilus edulis shell debris and alive organisms ("biofouling drop-offs"). The lack of similar results around monopiles (Belwind) confirms that the extent of detectable AR-effects depends on site- and turbine specific factors. • "Artificial reef" (AR) effects influence soft-sediment benthic communities nearby (37.5 m) jacket turbines. • Nearby sediments contained more abundant, richer and compositionally different communities compared to distant sediments. • Strongest benthic enrichment was observed in deeper sediments (i.e., sandbank gullies) and was linked with sediment fining. • Mytilus edulis - associated biofouling drop-off products enhanced habitat diversification nearby the jackets. • The detectability and extent of AR-effects strongly depends on site - and turbine specific factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01411136
Volume :
188
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Marine Environmental Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
164181099
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106009