Effects of dam construction on biodiversity: A review

Wu, Haipeng; Chen, Jin; Xu, Jijun; Zeng, Guangming; Lian-hai, Sang; Liu, Qiang; Zheng-jie, Yin; Dai, Juan; Yin, Duanzhi; Liang, Jie; Ye, Shujing

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.001

Cited by 240 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 129 publications

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“…The hydrologic regime of streams changing from lotic to lentic can influence the water retention in the reservoir. In general, the lentic condition causes a decrease in native species and then an increase in exotic species 8,9 . Furthermore, the degradation of aquatic fauna habitats can be caused by an increase in homogeneity of water channels, which has an effect on the seasonal flow variability of river 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and distribution of fish fauna of upstream and downstream areas at Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province, Indonesia

et al. 2019

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The capture fishery sectors in the river and reservoir play an Background important role in the Indonesian economy through increased income and diversification of livelihoods. The present study was conducted to ascertain fish diversity and their distribution pattern in the upstream and downstream areas of Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province-Indonesia.: Fish samples were collected for a period of 12 months using a Methods variety of fish nets at four sites; Koto Mesjid (KM) and Batu Bersurat (BB), located in the upstream area of Koto Panjang Reservoir and Rantau Berangin (RB) and Kuok (KK), located in the downstream area of Koto Panjang Reservoir. Data obtained were analyzed using standard taxonomic keys based on morphometric characters.: A total of 44 species belonging 19 families and 33 genera were Results recorded in the study area. Alpha diversity indices showed that fish diversity in this area was quite high (Shannon's index = 2.10 and Simpson-D = 0.21) and evenness was low (evenness H/S =0.19). The fish in KM and BB sites (upstream) were from eight and 11 families, respectively. In RB and KK sites (downstream), fish were from 16 and 15 families, respectively. In KM, BB, RB and KK sites, the dominant family was Cyprinidae, comprising 33.45%, 50.95%, 43.04% and 39.35% of all fish caught at each site, respectively. Exotic species, especially Nile tilapia, were 20.15%, 14.11%, 5.62%, and 5.34%, respectively. Some differences were also noted between the upstream and downstream reservoirs, with a slight increase in exotic species in the upstream reservoir over the study period (from 11.39% vs. 34.66%), corresponding to decrease of native species (from 88.61% vs. 65.34%).: The diversity and distribution of fish fauna were varied in Conclusions upstream and downstream areas of Koto Panjang Reservoir. The exotic species were found to be dominant in the upstream reservoir areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and distribution of fish fauna of upstream and downstream areas at Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province, Indonesia

et al. 2019

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“…Large and/or successive dams on the same river basin promote even more deleterious effects due to the synchronization of ecological processes (e.g. unavailability of reproductive sites; McCluney et al, 2014; Wang, 2018; Wu et al, 2019), and to the reduction of spatial heterogeneity; after all, the margins of a newly formed reservoir generally do not replicate the same alluvial habitats that previously existed (Alho, 2011; Brandão & Araújo, 2008; Cosson et al, 1999; Zeng et al, 2018). The reduced proportion of forest birds after the filling of the Serra do Facão reservoir corroborates the prediction that dam impacts are more pronounced on forest environments (Gomes et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…River engineering has impacted the connectivity of 60% of the major hydrographic basins world‐wide (Nilsson, Reidy, Dynesius, & Revenga, 2005), mainly through hydroelectric dams to supply the energy demands of the growing human population (Manzano‐Agugliaro, Alcayde, Montoya, Zapata‐Sierra, & Gil, 2013; Panwar, Kaushik, & Kothari, 2011; Zarfl, Lumsdon, Berlekamp, Tydecks, & Tockner, 2015). The construction of 3,700 new, large and medium dams is expected during the forthcoming decades (Lehner et al, 2011; Poff & Schmidt, 2016; Wu et al, 2019), mostly in emerging countries of southeast Asia, South America, Africa, Balkans and Caucasus (Beilfuss & Brown, 2010; Fearnside, 2015; Kareiva, 2012). The long‐term socio‐environmental consequences of these dams are still poorly known or even neglected (Bednarek, 2001; Richter et al, 2010; Ziv, Baran, Nam, Rodriguez‐Iturbe, & Levin, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Large hydroelectric reservoirs can affect aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity through habitat loss and fragmentation, changes in the physical and chemical properties of the water and changes in seasonal flooding regimes (Finer & Jenkins, 2012; Liermann, Nilsson, Robertson, & Ng, 2012; Vörösmarty et al, 2010). The construction of large dams impacts feeding and reproductive sites, disturbing dispersal and migration processes of vertebrate populations across the landscape (Alho, 2011; Fearnside, 2001, 2006; Wu et al, 2019). These effects often promote a reduction of biodiversity, modifying competitive and predator–prey relationships and favouring generalist species (Amorim et al, 2017; Benchimol & Peres, 2015a; Cosson et al, 1999), ultimately affecting the stability of natural communities (Brandão & Araújo, 2008; Passamani & Cerboncini, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though reservoirs on small rivers can provide attractive habitats for waterbirds, they often submerge specific and seasonally flooded habitats, eliminating reproductive, feeding and resting sites for many bird species (Amorim et al, 2017; Books, 1985; Zeng et al, 2018). They also interrupt the natural dynamics of floods and droughts, important phenological triggers that signal food supplies and dispersion routes to birds, which forage and breed in riverine areas (Knutson & Klaas, 1997; Poff & Schmidt, 2016; Wu et al, 2019). Further, reservoirs fragment alluvial forests that are essential for maintaining bird diversity and specific functional groups (Benchimol & Peres, 2015b; Bennett, Nimmo, & Radford, 2014; Lees & Peres, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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River dams and the stability of bird communities: A hierarchical Bayesian analysis in a tropical hydroelectric power plant

Abreu

Berg

Faria

et al. 2020

Journal of Applied Ecology

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The effects of anthropogenic disturbance upon the stability of wildlife communities depend on the heterogeneity and connectivity of habitat remnants on multiple scales. The number of hydroelectric dams in biodiversity hotspots (Africa, South America and Asia) is growing rapidly. To establish their environmental impact, it is essential to understand the dynamics of wildlife communities before and following the establishment of dams. We evaluated the impacts of the filling of the Serra do Facão hydroelectric reservoir in the São Marcos river, central Brazil, on the bird community. Using data from 1,145 surveys across 20 sampling sites over 8 years, 2 years before and 6 years after the filling of the reservoir, we assessed the resistance, i.e. maintenance close to an equilibrium state during the disturbance, and resilience, i.e. ability to return to the original state following the disturbance, of the bird community. We used spatiotemporal hierarchical Bayesian models to assess the effects of reservoir filling on five community parameters: abundance, richness, phylogenetic diversity, functional diversity and species composition. In the period subsequent to reservoir filling, there was (a) a marked reduction in bird abundance, richness, phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity, and (b) a reduction in the proportion of forest species, coupled with an increase in the proportion of savanna species. Except for bird abundance, none of the other community attributes returned to their original levels, even after 6 years. Our findings indicate that Cerrado bird communities have both low resistance and low resilience to habitat loss associated with the establishment of hydroelectric reservoirs. Synthesis and applications. The environmental costs of hydroelectric dams are still underestimated or neglected in Brazil. A new paradigm in the assessment of their environmental impacts is warranted, incorporating (a) models of spatiotemporal variations based on long‐term monitoring with surveys initiated before disturbances and (b) measures of functional and phylogenetic diversity, such that society can understand the costs and benefits of the establishment of new hydroelectric dams and make informed decisions. Biodiversity loss could be minimized by ensuring the preservation and connectivity of alluvial habitats, capable of maintaining the supply of resources and the functional and phylogenetic attributes of bird communities associated with such habitats.

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Application of a fish habitat model to assess habitat fragmentation using high flow and sediment transport in the Rumei Dam in Lancang River (China)

Yang,

Bao,

Cong

et al. 2023

Ecohydrology

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Dam construction and operation can result in serious disturbances to the downstream flow regime and fluvial process, river morphology and the river's ecological condition worldwide. To understand the effects of discharge and sedimentation on fish habitats and ecosystems, an ecohydraulic approach was applied to one of the mega hydropower schemes in the downstream Lancang River (Tibet). The approach comprised a dam operation module with high flow and sediment transport and the application of a dynamic fish habitat model for assessing habitat fragmentation of two targeted fish species: Schizothorax prenanti (S. prenanti) and Schizothorax davidi (S. davidi). The hydrodynamics of the river system and the assessed fish habitat show a significant impact of dam construction and operation on the downstream riverine ecosystem, in which fish habitats were found rapidly deteriorated with the destruction of feeding and reproductive grounds. To improve fish habitat after dam construction, the sediment supplement was applied to the river and shown to be a useful restoration strategy, which recovers the habitat fragmentation of target fish. Our model not only is useful to predict dam operation impacts on the Lancang River's ecological status but also shows great potential in mitigating hydropower‐induced environmental impacts and developing river conservation guidelines worldwide.

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Effects of dam construction on biodiversity: A review

Cited by 240 publications

References 129 publications

Diversity and distribution of fish fauna of upstream and downstream areas at Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province, Indonesia

Diversity and distribution of fish fauna of upstream and downstream areas at Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province, Indonesia

River dams and the stability of bird communities: A hierarchical Bayesian analysis in a tropical hydroelectric power plant

Application of a fish habitat model to assess habitat fragmentation using high flow and sediment transport in the Rumei Dam in Lancang River (China)

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