Benthic monitoring and sampling design and effort to detect spatial changes: A case study using data from offshore wind farm sites

摘要: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. The exploitation of renewable energies, in particular offshore wind farms (OWFs), is an expanding sector which involves activities that may adversely affect the marine benthic ecology. Fit-for-purpose monitoring required with sufficient statistical power to detect ecologically meaningful changes, but date there have been no studies on suitability programmes applied OWFs. theoretical relationship sampling effort precision community estimates and sensitivity analysis detecting spatial changes was investigated, this latter assessed through analysis. Benthic strategies descriptors UK OWFs were used interrogate real data variability environment. There a general lack clarity survey rationale hypotheses tested within OWF hence rigour design testing. Consequently properties rarely assessed. Precision mean differences means increased effort. At average case (4 stations per impact type area 3 replicates station), had ≥50% change between areas species richness (S; 5 species). Due their higher than S, more reliably abundance (N; stations) biomass (B; 10 stations). Higher N B achieved transformation data. Understanding implications detection important, particularly when has be adjusted due logistic financial constraints. Although 'one-size-fits-all' approach environmental acquisition, study guides researchers, developers regulators optimising at