Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams
Infrastructure-induced fragmentation of riverine ecosystems has engendered the need for more effective aquatic restoration efforts globally. Fragmentation assessments have been extensively undertaken to inform connectivity restoration efforts for fish and other aquatic biota, but they have potential...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac40b0 |
| _version_ | 1797747156668383232 |
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| author | Lee J Baumgartner Tim Marsden Deanna Duffy Ana Horta Nathan Ning |
| author_facet | Lee J Baumgartner Tim Marsden Deanna Duffy Ana Horta Nathan Ning |
| author_sort | Lee J Baumgartner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infrastructure-induced fragmentation of riverine ecosystems has engendered the need for more effective aquatic restoration efforts globally. Fragmentation assessments have been extensively undertaken to inform connectivity restoration efforts for fish and other aquatic biota, but they have potentially underestimated the extent of fragmentation by fixating on large dams and overlooking the contribution of other barriers like road crossings and small irrigation structures. The current study addresses this limitation in Mekong region countries (MReCs) of Southeast Asia, by assessing the fragmentation impacts of road crossings and small irrigation structures together with large dams. Our analysis indicates that the basin-scale fragmentation impact of road crossings is similar to that of large dams in MReCs, while small irrigation structures actually have a far greater impact. These findings raise concerns about the real global extent of aquatic fragmentation, and highlight the need for decision-makers to think beyond dams when attempting to restore connectivity for aquatic biota. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:47:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b459c25f0ca4b4b803bd3f8741cbd35 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:47:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b459c25f0ca4b4b803bd3f8741cbd352023-08-09T15:22:28ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262021-01-0117101400810.1088/1748-9326/ac40b0Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large damsLee J Baumgartner0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1237-5163Tim Marsden1Deanna Duffy2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1986-9748Ana Horta3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1998-8587Nathan Ning4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8483-0519Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University , PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, AustraliaInstitute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University , PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia; Australasian Fish Passage Services , 6 Spinifex Street, Fern Bay, New South Wales 2295, AustraliaInstitute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University , PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, AustraliaInstitute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University , PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, AustraliaInstitute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University , PO Box 789, Albury, NSW, 2640, AustraliaInfrastructure-induced fragmentation of riverine ecosystems has engendered the need for more effective aquatic restoration efforts globally. Fragmentation assessments have been extensively undertaken to inform connectivity restoration efforts for fish and other aquatic biota, but they have potentially underestimated the extent of fragmentation by fixating on large dams and overlooking the contribution of other barriers like road crossings and small irrigation structures. The current study addresses this limitation in Mekong region countries (MReCs) of Southeast Asia, by assessing the fragmentation impacts of road crossings and small irrigation structures together with large dams. Our analysis indicates that the basin-scale fragmentation impact of road crossings is similar to that of large dams in MReCs, while small irrigation structures actually have a far greater impact. These findings raise concerns about the real global extent of aquatic fragmentation, and highlight the need for decision-makers to think beyond dams when attempting to restore connectivity for aquatic biota.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac40b0barriersglobal changeirrigation infrastructureriver fragmentation |
| spellingShingle | Lee J Baumgartner Tim Marsden Deanna Duffy Ana Horta Nathan Ning Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams Environmental Research Letters barriers global change irrigation infrastructure river fragmentation |
| title | Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| title_full | Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| title_short | Optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| title_sort | optimizing efforts to restore aquatic ecosystem connectivity requires thinking beyond large dams |
| topic | barriers global change irrigation infrastructure river fragmentation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac40b0 |
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