Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development
A recent boom in hydroelectric development in the world's most diverse tropical river basins is currently threatening aquatic biodiversity on an unprecedented scale. Among the most controversial of these projects is the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Complex (BMHC) on the Xingu River, the Amazon's largest...
| Autor principal: | Fitzgerald, Daniel B. |
|---|---|
| Outros Autores: | Sabaj Pérez, Mark H., Sousa, Leandro M., Gonçalves, Alany P., Py-daniel, Lúcia Rapp, Lujan, Nathan K., Zuanon, Jansen, Winemiller, Kirk O., Lundberg, John G. |
| Grau: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | English |
| Publicado em: |
Biological Conservation
2020
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| Acesso em linha: |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/16918 |
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oai:repositorio:1-16918 |
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oai:repositorio:1-16918 Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development Fitzgerald, Daniel B. Sabaj Pérez, Mark H. Sousa, Leandro M. Gonçalves, Alany P. Py-daniel, Lúcia Rapp Lujan, Nathan K. Zuanon, Jansen Winemiller, Kirk O. Lundberg, John G. Anthropogenic Effect Biodiversity Cichlid Community Structure Connectivity Conservation Status Design Endemic Species Hydroelectric Power Hydrological Response River Basin Spatio-temporal Analysis Species Diversity Species Richness Brasil Xingu River Anostomidae Cichlidae Loricariidae Pisces A recent boom in hydroelectric development in the world's most diverse tropical river basins is currently threatening aquatic biodiversity on an unprecedented scale. Among the most controversial of these projects is the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Complex (BMHC) on the Xingu River, the Amazon's largest clear-water tributary. The design of the BMHC creates three distinctly altered segments: a flooded section upstream of the main dam, a middle section between the dam and the main powerhouse that will be dewatered, and a downstream section subject to flow alteration from powerhouse discharge. This region of the Xingu is notable for an extensive series of rapids known as the Volta Grande that hosts exceptional levels of endemic aquatic biodiversity; yet, patterns of temporal and spatial variation in community composition within this highly threatened habitat are not well documented. We surveyed fish assemblages within rapids in the three segments impacted by the BMHC prior to hydrologic alteration, and tested for differences in assemblage structure between segments and seasons. Fish species richness varied only slightly between segments, but there were significant differences in assemblage structure between segments and seasons. Most of the species thought to be highly dependent on rapids habitat, including several species listed as threatened in Brazil, were either restricted to or much more abundant within the upstream and middle segments. Our analysis identified the middle section of the Volta Grande as critically important for the conservation of this diverse, endemic fish fauna. Additional research is urgently needed to determine dam operations that may optimize energy production with an environmental flow regime that conserves the river's unique habitat and biodiversity. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd 2020-06-15T21:37:17Z 2020-06-15T21:37:17Z 2018 Artigo https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/16918 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.04.002 en Volume 222, Pags. 104-112 Restrito Biological Conservation |
| institution |
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - Repositório Institucional |
| collection |
INPA-RI |
| language |
English |
| topic |
Anthropogenic Effect Biodiversity Cichlid Community Structure Connectivity Conservation Status Design Endemic Species Hydroelectric Power Hydrological Response River Basin Spatio-temporal Analysis Species Diversity Species Richness Brasil Xingu River Anostomidae Cichlidae Loricariidae Pisces |
| spellingShingle |
Anthropogenic Effect Biodiversity Cichlid Community Structure Connectivity Conservation Status Design Endemic Species Hydroelectric Power Hydrological Response River Basin Spatio-temporal Analysis Species Diversity Species Richness Brasil Xingu River Anostomidae Cichlidae Loricariidae Pisces Fitzgerald, Daniel B. Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| topic_facet |
Anthropogenic Effect Biodiversity Cichlid Community Structure Connectivity Conservation Status Design Endemic Species Hydroelectric Power Hydrological Response River Basin Spatio-temporal Analysis Species Diversity Species Richness Brasil Xingu River Anostomidae Cichlidae Loricariidae Pisces |
| description |
A recent boom in hydroelectric development in the world's most diverse tropical river basins is currently threatening aquatic biodiversity on an unprecedented scale. Among the most controversial of these projects is the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Complex (BMHC) on the Xingu River, the Amazon's largest clear-water tributary. The design of the BMHC creates three distinctly altered segments: a flooded section upstream of the main dam, a middle section between the dam and the main powerhouse that will be dewatered, and a downstream section subject to flow alteration from powerhouse discharge. This region of the Xingu is notable for an extensive series of rapids known as the Volta Grande that hosts exceptional levels of endemic aquatic biodiversity; yet, patterns of temporal and spatial variation in community composition within this highly threatened habitat are not well documented. We surveyed fish assemblages within rapids in the three segments impacted by the BMHC prior to hydrologic alteration, and tested for differences in assemblage structure between segments and seasons. Fish species richness varied only slightly between segments, but there were significant differences in assemblage structure between segments and seasons. Most of the species thought to be highly dependent on rapids habitat, including several species listed as threatened in Brazil, were either restricted to or much more abundant within the upstream and middle segments. Our analysis identified the middle section of the Volta Grande as critically important for the conservation of this diverse, endemic fish fauna. Additional research is urgently needed to determine dam operations that may optimize energy production with an environmental flow regime that conserves the river's unique habitat and biodiversity. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd |
| format |
Artigo |
| author |
Fitzgerald, Daniel B. |
| author2 |
Sabaj Pérez, Mark H. Sousa, Leandro M. Gonçalves, Alany P. Py-daniel, Lúcia Rapp Lujan, Nathan K. Zuanon, Jansen Winemiller, Kirk O. Lundberg, John G. |
| author2Str |
Sabaj Pérez, Mark H. Sousa, Leandro M. Gonçalves, Alany P. Py-daniel, Lúcia Rapp Lujan, Nathan K. Zuanon, Jansen Winemiller, Kirk O. Lundberg, John G. |
| title |
Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| title_short |
Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| title_full |
Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| title_fullStr |
Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the Xingu River: Implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| title_sort |
diversity and community structure of rapids-dwelling fishes of the xingu river: implications for conservation amid large-scale hydroelectric development |
| publisher |
Biological Conservation |
| publishDate |
2020 |
| url |
https://repositorio.inpa.gov.br/handle/1/16918 |
| _version_ |
1787142270962630656 |
| score |
11.687526 |