River science and management issues in Chile: Hydropower development and native fish communities

Abstract

The magnitude of hydropower developments in emerging regions threatens the sustainability of their riverine landscapes. Fragmentation of river networks by multiple barriers and the imposition of new hydrological regimes influences the ability of these river ecosystems to absorb and adapt to these developments and other stressors. Direct transfer of paradigms built from a restricted geographical base to a global context is fraught with issues because of regional differences in eco‐hydro‐geomorphology, biological communities, and nonlinear interactions between the two. In this manuscript, some impacts of hydropower development on Chilean riverine ecosystems are presented. To understand the context of hydropower, we provide the political context of energy development in Chile. Interactions between hydropower generation and Chilean river ecosystems with special reference to native Chilean fish fauna are outlined. Three case studies are presented that considers: (a) habitat alteration downstream of the Rucúe Dam, (b) the effects of daily hydropeaking in the Biobío River, and (c) mitigation strategies to reduce habitat alteration upstream of the San Pedro Dam. These case studies illustrate the expanding scientific knowledge on Chilean riverine landscapes. Finally, new measures to reduce ecosystem impacts of hydropower development on native Chilean fish communities are outlined. Although specific scientific information is available, developing regional ecohydrological models and improving knowledge of ecosystem and sustainability science is required. The scientific approach on which solutions are sought to address present and future river ecosystem problems in Chile are inherently interdisciplinary nature.

The effects of diadromy and its loss on genomic divergence: The case of amphidromous Galaxias maculatus populations

“…The range of G. maculatus in Chile has declined 26%, and this decline largely involves the disappearance of populations in the northernmost part of the range (Habit et al, ). These northern river systems (i.e., Biobío River system) are impacted by hydropower developments that lead to habitat fragmentation and population isolation, affecting the migration of populations to spawning sites (Habit et al, ). Thus, considerations of the conservation status of northernmost resident populations are therefore strongly warranted.…”

Functional process zones and their fish communities in temperate Andean river networks

“…They drain from east to west and form a collective of parallel basins distributed along a latitudinal gradient (Campos, ; Marin, Delgado, & Vila, ) that experience multiple natural and anthropogenic stressors (Aguayo, Pauchard, Azocar, & Parra, ). Increasingly, dams and the generation of hydroelectric power, land use changes, water extractions for irrigation, industrial, and domestic effluents are having a significant effect on these systems (Habit et al, ). Differences in latitudinal position and anthropogenic impact make it difficult to develop suitable sampling designs that would reveal cause–effect relationships between anthropogenic activities and biotic changes.…”

Large rivers as complex adaptive ecosystems

“…The magnitude of hydropower developments threatens the sustainability of many riverine landscapes, globally. Habit et al () in their study of Chilean river systems argue the direct transfer of paradigms built from a restricted geographical base to a global context is fraught with issues because of regional differences in hydro‐geomorphology processes, biological and social communities, and the nonlinear interactions between them. In this manuscript, some impacts of hydropower development on Chilean riverine ecosystems are presented.…”

“…In this manuscript, some impacts of hydropower development on Chilean riverine ecosystems are presented. Habit et al () outline the political context of energy and hydropower development in Chile and show how this dictates river development in this emerging region. They argue that although specific scientific information is available, developing regional ecohydrological models and improving knowledge of ecosystem and sustainability science is required.…”