Basin-scale planning is needed to minimize impacts in mega-diverse rivers

Reservoirs have been built in almost all of the hydrographic basins of Brazil. Their purposes include water supply for cities, irrigation and mainly, generation of electricity. There are more than 700 large dams and associated reservoirs in the large rivers of the country. These reservoirs favor local and regional economic development, but they also bring serious and irreversible alterations in the natural hydrologic regime of rivers, affecting habitat quality and the dynamics of the biota. In the impounded area, the main impact is the change from lotic to lentic water, which influences aquatic fauna, including fishes. Impacts of reservoirs present relevant spatiotemporal variations. Immediately after reservoir formation, fish species richness usually increases due to incorporation of surrounding habitats, but richness decreases as reservoirs age. However, impacts downstream of dams appear to be similar or stronger than those that occur within the reservoir. Dams promote discharge control, altering the seasonal cycles of floods. These effects are augmented when dams are constructed in cascades. Therefore, dams profoundly influence composition and structure of fish assemblages. Most affected species are the rheophilics and long distance migratory that require distinct habitats to fulfill their life cycles. Populations of migratory species may collapse or even disappear in intensely regulated stretches. Management actions taken to minimize impacts of dams in Brazil historically considered construction of fish passages, fishery control and stocking. The results of these actions are questionable and/or with clear failures. In this paper, we give emphasis to the Paraná River basin, the most affected by dams in Brazil. We describe some patterns in the alteration and decline in fish diversity in areas influenced by dams. We also discuss negative consequences in the fishery and ecosystems functioning. Finally, we argue the relevance and the success of the management actions taken and present some suggestions to improve conservation of the ichthyofauna in South American basins influenced by dams.Keywords: fish diversity, dam impacts, fish management, fish conservation, Paraná River. Represamentos e a fauna de peixes neotropicais: impactos e manejo relacionados à diversidade e à pesca ResumoNo Brasil, reservatórios foram construídos nas principais bacias hidrográficas, para fins de abastecimento humano, irrigação e, principalmente, geração de energia elétrica. Como resultado, praticamente todos os grandes rios estão hoje sob influência de barragens, sendo que mais de 700 grandes reservatórios encontram-se espalhados pelos rios do País. Apesar de importantes para o desenvolvimento econômico, os barramentos promovem alterações graves e irreversí-veis no regime hidrológico natural dos rios, alterando também a qualidade dos hábitats e a dinâmica de toda a biota. Na região do reservatório, o principal impacto é decorrente da alteração de ambiente lótico para lêntico, que influencia sobremaneira a fauna aquática, inclus...

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In terms of biodiversity, Brazilian inland waters are of enormous global significance for Algae (25% of the world's species), Porifera (Demospongiae, 33%), Rotifera (25%), Cladocera (Branchiopoda, 20%), and fishes (21%). Threatened freshwater species include 44 species of invertebrates (mostly Porifera) and 134 fishes (mostly Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae), primarily distributed in south and southeastern Brazil. Reasons for the declines in biodiversity in Brazilian inland waters include pollution and eutrophication, siltation, impoundments and flood control, fisheries, and species introductions. These problems are more conspicuous in the more-developed regions. The majority of protected areas in Brazil have been created for terrestrial fauna and flora, but they also protect significant water bodies and wetlands. As a result, although very poorly documented, these areas are of great importance for aquatic species. A major and pressing challenge is the assessment of the freshwater biodiversity in protected areas and surveys to better understand the diversity and geography of freshwater species in Brazil. The concept of umbrella species (e.g., certain migratory fishes) would be beneficial for the protection of aquatic biodiversity and habitats. The conservation and improved management of river corridors and associated floodplains and the maintenance of their hydrological integrity is fundamental to preserving Brazil's freshwater biodiversity and the health of its aquatic resources. Conservación de la Biodiversidad de las Aguas Interiores de BrasilResumen: En términos de biodiversidad, las aguas interiores de Brasil son de enorme importancia global para Algae (25% de las especies del mundo), Porifera (Demospongiae, 33%), Rotifera (25%), Cladocera (Branchiopoda, 20%) y peces (21%). Las especies dulceacuícolas amenazadas incluyen a 44 especies de invertebrados (la mayoría Porifera) y 134 de peces (en su mayor parte Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae), distribuidos principalmente en el sur y sureste de Brasil. Las razones de la declinación en la biodiversidad de aguas interiores de Brasil incluyen contaminación y eutrofización, sedimentación, represas y control de inundaciones, pesquerías e introducción de especies. Estos problemas son más conspicuos en las regiones más desarrolladas. La mayoría de lasáreas protegidas en Brasil han sido creadas para fauna y flora terrestres, pero también protegen a considerable número de cuerpos de agua y humedales y, aunque muy deficientemente documentado, como tales son de gran importancia para las especies acuáticas. La evaluación de la biodiversidad dulceacuícola enáreas protegidas y muestreos para un mejor entendimiento de la diversidad y geografía de especies dulceacuícolas de Brasil son un reto mayor y apremiante. El concepto de especies sombrilla (e.g., ciertos peces migratorios) sería benéfico para la protección de biodiversidad y hábitats acuáticos. La conservación y perfeccionamiento de la gestión de corredores fluviales y las llanuras de inundación asociadas y el mantenimiento de...

Applying the ecosystem services concept to conservation initiatives or in managing ecosystem services requires understanding how environmental impacts affect the ecology of key species or functional groups providing the services. We examined effects of river impoundments, one of the leading threats to freshwater biodiversity, on an important ecosystem service provided by large tropical rivers (i.e., artisanal fisheries). The societal and economic importance of this ecosystem service in developing countries may provide leverage to advance conservation agendas where future impoundments are being considered. We assessed impoundment effects on the energetic costs of fisheries production (embodied energy) and commercial market value of the artisanal fishery of the Paraná River, Brazil, before and after formation of Itaipu Reservoir. High-value migratory species that dominated the fishery before the impoundment was built constituted a minor component of the contemporary fishery that is based heavily on reservoir-adapted introduced species. Cascading effects of river impoundment resulted in a mismatch between embodied energy and market value: energetic costs of fisheries production increased, whereas market value decreased. This was partially attributable to changes in species functional composition but also strongly linked to species identities that affected market value as a result of consumer preferences even when species were functionally similar. Similar trends are expected in other large tropical rivers following impoundment. In addition to identifying consequences of a common anthropogenic impact on an important ecosystem service, our assessment provides insight into the sustainability of fisheries production in tropical rivers and priorities for regional biodiversity conservation.

The Paraná River is the second longest river in South America and the tenth largest river in the world in water discharge. The upper stretches are characterized by high human occupation and intense anthropogenic activities, and few areas are still in pristine conditions. Despite this, fish diversity is remarkably high in the upper Paraná River basin, and the existence of different habitats greatly influences fish biodiversity. Although most species are sedentary, migratory species are considered the most important, since they have historically sustained commercial and recreational fisheries. Recently, stocks of migratory species have diminished in many rivers due to overfishing and habitat modifications caused by dams. Impoundments have a long history in the basin and constitute the main source of impacts for both sedentary and migratory fish species. Government agencies have implemented management actions to mitigate the effects of damming on fish populations, which included fish stocking (using native and non-native species), the construction of transposition mechanisms and fishery control. However, their efficacy for conservation has been severely questioned and, in many instances, these actions have produced negative outcomes to biodiversity. The lack of studies and monitoring programs contributed to the uncritical adoption of some dubious management actions. Inevitably, management plans directed to conserve fish biodiversity in the basin need urgent revision.

The reproductive strategies of potamodromous fish of the Plata basin involve upstream migration and passive downstream movements of eggs and larvae for dozens of kilometres. At the end of the downstream movements, the fry need marginal lagoons or bays in order for their development to be successful. The construction of reservoirs, often in series, has interrupted the movements, and is perhaps the main factor in the decrease in the abundance of migratory fish in the basin. In an attempt to lessen the impact on the upstream migrations, fish passages (floodgates, elevators and mainly ladders) have been constructed and, despite limitations, they have functioned with relative success. Some studies show the continuity of the migration of individuals captured downstream and released into the reservoir. However, downstream migration of adult migratory species is made difficult by the fact that they are, in this phase, generally reophylic (live in running water) and occupy only the upper stretches of reservoirs (fluvial and transitional zones). It would be feasible only in short reservoirs and with a very short residence time. The fact that reservoirs present calm waters, more transparency and contain a large number of small fish could delay the passive drift of eggs and larvae, exposing them to intense predation and/or promoting their settling toward deeper water, where the conditions of oxygenation are generally critical. In the remote event that the larvae reach the dam, most of them cannot be attracted to ladders (elevators are conceived only for upstream movements) or driven away from the reservoir vicinities, in as much as they have passive movements and would therefore suffer great mortality if they passed through turbines or a spillway. In reservoirs with large free stretches upstream and endowed with ample natural floodplain areas, transposition can be an useful instrument in the maintenance of genetic heterogeneity since the number of transposed specimens does not compromise the stocks of the lower stretch. These limitations, connected to the strategy of neotropical fishes, make fish passages in most situations an inadequate instrument for preservational management.