As the EU's commitment to renewable energy is projected to grow to 20% of energy generation by 2020, the use of marine renewable energy from wind, wave and tidal resources is increasing. This literature review (233 studies) (i) summarizes knowledge on how marine renewable energy devices affect benthic environments, (ii) explains how these effects could alter ecosystem processes that support major ecosystem services and (iii) provides an approach to determine urgent research needs. Conceptual diagrams were set up to structure hypothesized cause-effect relationships (i.e. paths). Paths were scored for (i) temporal and spatial scale of the effect, (ii) benthic sensitivity to these effects, (iii) the effect consistency and iv) scoring confidence, and consecutively ranked. This approach identified prominent knowledge gaps and research needs about (a) hydrodynamic changes possibly resulting in altered primary production with potential consequences for filter feeders, (b) the introduction and range expansion of non-native species (through stepping stone effects) and, (c) noise and vibration effects on benthic organisms. Our results further provide evidence that benthic sensitivity to offshore renewable effects is higher than previously indicated. Knowledge on changes of ecological functioning through cascading effects is limited and requires distinct hypothesis-driven research combined with integrative ecological modelling.

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离岸可再生能源的底栖效应：认识差距和迫切需要的研究

预计到2020年，欧盟对可再生能源的承诺将增长至20％的能源生产，因此来自风，浪和潮汐资源的海洋可再生能源的使用正在增加。这份文献综述（233个研究）（i）总结了有关海洋可再生能源设备如何影响底栖环境的知识，（ii）解释了这些影响如何改变支持主要生态系统服务的生态系统过程，并且（iii）提供了确定紧急研究需求的方法。建立概念图以构造假设的因果关系（即路径）。对路径进行评分：（i）效果的时间和空间尺度，（ii）对这些效果的底栖敏感性，（iii）效果一致性和iv）得分置信度，并进行连续排名。这种方法确定了突出的知识空白和研究需求，涉及以下方面：（a）流体动力学的变化可能导致初级生产的改变，从而给滤嘴带来潜在的后果；（b）引入和扩大非本地物种的范围（通过踏脚石效应），以及（ c）噪声和振动对底栖生物的影响。我们的结果进一步提供了证据，表明底栖生物对海上可再生能源的敏感性高于先前指出的敏感性。通过级联效应对生态功能的变化的了解是有限的，需要结合假设生态学研究和综合生态建模的独特研究。（b）外来物种的引入和范围扩展（通过踏脚石效应），以及（c）对底栖生物的噪声和振动效应。我们的结果进一步提供了证据，表明底栖生物对海上可再生能源的敏感性高于先前指出的敏感性。通过级联效应对生态功能的变化的了解是有限的，需要结合假设生态学研究和综合生态建模的独特研究。（b）外来物种的引入和范围扩展（通过踏脚石效应），以及（c）对底栖生物的噪声和振动效应。我们的结果进一步提供了证据，表明底栖生物对海上可再生能源的敏感性高于先前指出的敏感性。通过级联效应对生态功能的变化的了解是有限的，需要结合假设生态学研究和综合生态建模的独特研究。