Basin-scale effects of small hydropower on biodiversity dynamics
- Lange, Katharina
- Meier, Philipp
- Trautwein, Clemens
- Schmid, Martin
- Robinson, Christopher T
- Weber, Christine
- Brodersen, Jakob
DOIAbstract
Construction of small hydropower plants (<10 megawatts) is booming worldwide, exacerbating ongoing habitat fragmentation and degradation, and further fueling biodiversity loss. A systematic approach for selecting hydropower sites within river networks may help to minimize the detrimental effects of small hydropower on biodiversity. In addition, a better understanding of reach- and basin- scale impacts is key for designing planning tools. We synthesize the available information about (1) reach-scale and (2) basin-scale impacts of small hydro-power plants on biodiversity and ecosystem function, and (3) interactions with other anthropogenic stressors. We then discuss state-of-the-art, spatially explicit planning tools and suggest how improve...
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