Spatial and temporal benthic species assemblage responses with a deployed marine tidal energy device: A small scaled study

摘要: Abstract The addition of man-made structures to the marine environment is known increase physical complexity seafloor, which can influence benthic species community patterns and habitat structure. However, knowledge how deployed tidal energy device communities currently lacking. Here we examined biodiversity, composition type surrounding a within European Marine Energy Centre test site, Orkney. Commercial fishing towed video camera techniques were used over three temporal periods, from 2009 2010. Our results showed increased biodiversity compositional differences compared control site. Both sites largely comprised crustacean species, omnivore or predatory feeding regimes tide-swept EUNIS types, varied time. We conclude that could act as localised artificial reef structure, but further in-depth investigations are required.