Predictable changes in fish school characteristics due to a tidal turbine support structure

Benjamin Williamson (Corresponding Author), Shaun Fraser, Laura Williamson, Vladimir Nikora, Beth Scott

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

1 Citation (Scopus)
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Abstract

There is uncertainty on the ecological effects of tidal stream turbines. Concerns include animal collision with turbine blades, disruption of migratory and foraging behaviour, attraction of animals to prey aggregating around turbines, or conversely displacement of animals from preferred habitat. This study used concurrent ecological and physical measurements to show the predictability of fish school characteristics (presence, school area and height above seabed) in a high energy tidal site across spring/neap, ebb/flood and daily cycles, and how this changed around a turbine structure. The rate of schools and school area per hour increased by 1.74 and 1.75 times respectively around a turbine structure compared to observations under similar conditions without a turbine structure. The largest schools occurred at peak flow speeds and the vertical distribution of schools over the diel cycle was altered around the turbine structure. While predictable attraction or aggregation of prey may increase prey availability and predator foraging efficiency, attraction of predators has the potential to increase animal collision risk. Predictable changes from the installation of turbine structures can be used to estimate cumulative effects on predators at a population level. This study can guide a strategic approach to the monitoring and management of turbines and arrays.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1092-1102
Number of pages11
JournalRenewable Energy
Volume141
Early online date15 Apr 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019

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Fish
Turbines
Animals
Turbomachine blades
Agglomeration
Availability
Monitoring

Keywords

  • Environmental monitoring
  • Environmental impact
  • Fish behavior
  • Marine renewable energy
  • Tidal stream turbine
  • Fish behaviour

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Cite this

Predictable changes in fish school characteristics due to a tidal turbine support structure. / Williamson, Benjamin (Corresponding Author); Fraser, Shaun; Williamson, Laura; Nikora, Vladimir; Scott, Beth.

In: Renewable Energy, Vol. 141, 10.2019, p. 1092-1102.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Williamson, B, Fraser, S, Williamson, L, Nikora, V & Scott, B 2019, 'Predictable changes in fish school characteristics due to a tidal turbine support structure', Renewable Energy, vol. 141, pp. 1092-1102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.065
Williamson B, Fraser S, Williamson L, Nikora V, Scott B. Predictable changes in fish school characteristics due to a tidal turbine support structure. Renewable Energy. 2019 Oct;141:1092-1102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.04.065
Williamson, Benjamin ; Fraser, Shaun ; Williamson, Laura ; Nikora, Vladimir ; Scott, Beth. / Predictable changes in fish school characteristics due to a tidal turbine support structure. In: Renewable Energy. 2019 ; Vol. 141. pp. 1092-1102.
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