Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis

Dams are crucial for water supply in human populations and are becoming more common globally for hydroelectric power generation. Dams alter natural habitats and their biodiversity; however, studies are inconclusive about their effects on them. This study aimed to examine the effects of dams on verte...

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Autores principales:	Mauricio Bohada-Murillo, Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa, Francisco E. Fontúrbel
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	hydroelectric reservoir large dams fragmentation birds mammals vertebrate diversity Biology (General) QH301-705.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/01609b5c7d7d43a087118dc851bc0409
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id	oai:doaj.org-article:01609b5c7d7d43a087118dc851bc0409
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:01609b5c7d7d43a087118dc851bc04092021-11-25T17:22:24ZEffects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis10.3390/d131105281424-2818https://doaj.org/article/01609b5c7d7d43a087118dc851bc04092021-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/11/528https://doaj.org/toc/1424-2818Dams are crucial for water supply in human populations and are becoming more common globally for hydroelectric power generation. Dams alter natural habitats and their biodiversity; however, studies are inconclusive about their effects on them. This study aimed to examine the effects of dams on vertebrates and the determinants of changes in global biodiversity and their relationship with critical areas for conservation. We evaluated the effects of dams on vertebrate richness and abundance. We performed a meta-analysis based on 120 case studies. We evaluated the overall effect on richness and abundance and examined these effects regarding taxa, disturbance type, latitudinal zone, zoogeographic zone, biodiversity hotspots, dam size and purpose, and species extinction risk. We conducted an overall analysis that included all species, and then we conducted separate analyses for terrestrial and aquatic species. Dams had a negative effect on vertebrate richness but not on vertebrate abundance. These effects were influenced by larger dams with fragmentation and were more pronounced within hotspots and in countries with a low species extinction risk. Such negative effects were explained by terrestrial vertebrates (particularly birds and mammals) because species richness and the abundance of aquatic vertebrates (fish) were not affected by dams in any case. Our results showed that habitat fragmentation created by large dams changes vertebrate communities, negatively affecting species richness in some areas of conservation concern. We propose implementing reservoirs in areas where they would have a lower impact on biodiversity and avoiding large dams in priority areas for conservation and where endangered species inhabit.Mauricio Bohada-MurilloGabriel J. Castaño-VillaFrancisco E. FontúrbelMDPI AGarticlehydroelectric reservoirlarge damsfragmentationbirdsmammalsvertebrate diversityBiology (General)QH301-705.5ENDiversity, Vol 13, Iss 528, p 528 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	hydroelectric reservoir large dams fragmentation birds mammals vertebrate diversity Biology (General) QH301-705.5
spellingShingle	hydroelectric reservoir large dams fragmentation birds mammals vertebrate diversity Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Mauricio Bohada-Murillo Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa Francisco E. Fontúrbel Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
description	Dams are crucial for water supply in human populations and are becoming more common globally for hydroelectric power generation. Dams alter natural habitats and their biodiversity; however, studies are inconclusive about their effects on them. This study aimed to examine the effects of dams on vertebrates and the determinants of changes in global biodiversity and their relationship with critical areas for conservation. We evaluated the effects of dams on vertebrate richness and abundance. We performed a meta-analysis based on 120 case studies. We evaluated the overall effect on richness and abundance and examined these effects regarding taxa, disturbance type, latitudinal zone, zoogeographic zone, biodiversity hotspots, dam size and purpose, and species extinction risk. We conducted an overall analysis that included all species, and then we conducted separate analyses for terrestrial and aquatic species. Dams had a negative effect on vertebrate richness but not on vertebrate abundance. These effects were influenced by larger dams with fragmentation and were more pronounced within hotspots and in countries with a low species extinction risk. Such negative effects were explained by terrestrial vertebrates (particularly birds and mammals) because species richness and the abundance of aquatic vertebrates (fish) were not affected by dams in any case. Our results showed that habitat fragmentation created by large dams changes vertebrate communities, negatively affecting species richness in some areas of conservation concern. We propose implementing reservoirs in areas where they would have a lower impact on biodiversity and avoiding large dams in priority areas for conservation and where endangered species inhabit.
format	article
author	Mauricio Bohada-Murillo Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa Francisco E. Fontúrbel
author_facet	Mauricio Bohada-Murillo Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa Francisco E. Fontúrbel
author_sort	Mauricio Bohada-Murillo
title	Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
title_short	Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
title_full	Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
title_fullStr	Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
title_full_unstemmed	Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis
title_sort	effects of dams on vertebrate diversity: a global analysis
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/01609b5c7d7d43a087118dc851bc0409
work_keys_str_mv	AT mauriciobohadamurillo effectsofdamsonvertebratediversityaglobalanalysis AT gabrieljcastanovilla effectsofdamsonvertebratediversityaglobalanalysis AT franciscoefonturbel effectsofdamsonvertebratediversityaglobalanalysis
_version_	1718412387288088576

Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis

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