Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka

Abstract Our study focused on quantifying the alterations of streamflow at a weir site due to the construction of a mini-hydropower plant in the Gurugoda Oya (Sri Lanka), and evaluating the spatial responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to altered flow regime. The HEC–HMS 3.5 model was applied to t...

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Autores principales:	Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe, Mohamed M. M. Najim, Silvia Quadroni, Muneeb M. Musthafa
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/f947533a6d414f4bab77be08f267c7c7
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:f947533a6d414f4bab77be08f267c7c72021-12-02T14:01:38ZImpacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka10.1038/s41598-020-79576-52045-2322https://doaj.org/article/f947533a6d414f4bab77be08f267c7c72021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79576-5https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Our study focused on quantifying the alterations of streamflow at a weir site due to the construction of a mini-hydropower plant in the Gurugoda Oya (Sri Lanka), and evaluating the spatial responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to altered flow regime. The HEC–HMS 3.5 model was applied to the Gurugoda Oya sub-catchment to generate streamflows for the time period 1991–2013. Pre-weir flows were compared to post-weir flows with 32 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration using the range of variability approach (RVA). Concurrently, six study sites were established upstream and downstream of the weir, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly from May to November 2013 (during the wet season). The key water physico-chemical parameters were also determined. RVA analysis showed that environmental flow was not maintained below the weir. The mean rate of non-attainment was ~ 45% suggesting a moderate level of hydrologic alteration. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed between the study sites located above and below the weir, with a richness reduction due to water diversion. The spatial distribution of zoobenthic fauna was governed by water depth, dissolved oxygen content and volume flow rate. Our work provides first evidence on the effects of small hydropower on river ecosystem in a largely understudied region. Studies like this are important to setting-up adequate e-flows.Dinuke S. N. MunasingheMohamed M. M. NajimSilvia QuadroniMuneeb M. MusthafaNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe Mohamed M. M. Najim Silvia Quadroni Muneeb M. Musthafa Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
description	Abstract Our study focused on quantifying the alterations of streamflow at a weir site due to the construction of a mini-hydropower plant in the Gurugoda Oya (Sri Lanka), and evaluating the spatial responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to altered flow regime. The HEC–HMS 3.5 model was applied to the Gurugoda Oya sub-catchment to generate streamflows for the time period 1991–2013. Pre-weir flows were compared to post-weir flows with 32 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration using the range of variability approach (RVA). Concurrently, six study sites were established upstream and downstream of the weir, and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly from May to November 2013 (during the wet season). The key water physico-chemical parameters were also determined. RVA analysis showed that environmental flow was not maintained below the weir. The mean rate of non-attainment was ~ 45% suggesting a moderate level of hydrologic alteration. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities significantly differed between the study sites located above and below the weir, with a richness reduction due to water diversion. The spatial distribution of zoobenthic fauna was governed by water depth, dissolved oxygen content and volume flow rate. Our work provides first evidence on the effects of small hydropower on river ecosystem in a largely understudied region. Studies like this are important to setting-up adequate e-flows.
format	article
author	Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe Mohamed M. M. Najim Silvia Quadroni Muneeb M. Musthafa
author_facet	Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe Mohamed M. M. Najim Silvia Quadroni Muneeb M. Musthafa
author_sort	Dinuke S. N. Munasinghe
title	Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
title_short	Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
title_full	Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
title_fullStr	Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
title_full_unstemmed	Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka
title_sort	impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in sri lanka
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/f947533a6d414f4bab77be08f267c7c7
work_keys_str_mv	AT dinukesnmunasinghe impactsofstreamflowalterationonbenthicmacroinvertebratesbyminihydrodiversioninsrilanka AT mohamedmmnajim impactsofstreamflowalterationonbenthicmacroinvertebratesbyminihydrodiversioninsrilanka AT silviaquadroni impactsofstreamflowalterationonbenthicmacroinvertebratesbyminihydrodiversioninsrilanka AT muneebmmusthafa impactsofstreamflowalterationonbenthicmacroinvertebratesbyminihydrodiversioninsrilanka
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Impacts of streamflow alteration on benthic macroinvertebrates by mini-hydro diversion in Sri Lanka

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