Does it really matter? Changes in species richness and biomass at different spatial scales
Rumes, B.; Coates, D.; De Mesel, I.; Derweduwen, J; Kerckhof, F.; Reubens, J.; Vandendriessche, S. (2013). Does it really matter? Changes in species richness and biomass at different spatial scales, in: Degraer, S. et al. (Ed.) Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: Learning from the past to optimise future monitoring programmes. pp. 183-189
In: Degraer, S.; Brabant, R.; Rumes, B. (Ed.) (2013). Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: Learning from the past to optimise future monitoring programmes. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Marine Ecology and Management Section: Brussels. ISBN 978-90-9027-928-2. 239 pp.
Since the installation of the wind farm foundations and associated scour protection in an area previously characterized by soft bottom sediments, the number of hard substrate associated fish and benthic species has increased markedly. At the level of a single turbine footprint a nearly 4000-fold increase in autumn biomass was observed, whereas at the level of the entire wind farm a 14-fold increase was observed. Further development of the entire Belgian wind energy zone may increase benthic biomass by as much as 3% of the current estimated benthic biomass in the Belgian part of the North Sea.
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