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- Title
Water diversion in Brazil threatens biodiversity.
- Authors
Daga, Vanessa S.; Azevedo-Santos, Valter M.; Pelicice, Fernando M.; Fearnside, Philip M.; Perbiche-Neves, Gilmar; Paschoal, Lucas R. P.; Cavallari, Daniel C.; Erickson, José; Ruocco, Ana M. C.; Oliveira, Igor; Padial, André A.; Vitule, Jean R. S.
- Abstract
Construction of water diversions is a common response to the increasing demands for freshwater, often resulting in benefits to communities but with the risk of multiple environmental, economic, and social impacts. Water-diversion projects can favor massive introductions and accelerate biotic homogenization. This study provides empirical evidence on the consequences of a proposed law intended to divert water from two large and historically isolated river basins in Brazil: Tocantins to São Francisco. Compositional similarity (CS) and β-diversity were quantified encompassing aquatic organisms: mollusks, zooplankton, crustaceans, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and plants. For CS we (i) considered only native species, and (ii) simulated the introduction of non-natives and assumed the extinction of threatened species due to this water-diversion project. We highlight the environmental risks of such large-scale projects, which are expected to cause impacts on biodiversity linked to bioinvasion and homogenization, and we recommend alternatives in order to solve water-demand conflicts.
- Subjects
BRAZIL; TOCANTINS (Brazil); BIOLOGICAL extinction; WILDLIFE conservation; WATER diversion; ENVIRONMENTAL risk; ENDANGERED species; AQUATIC organisms; CALANOIDA; VERTEBRATES
- Publication
AMBIO - A Journal of the Human Environment, 2020, Vol 49, Issue 1, p165
- ISSN
0044-7447
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s13280-019-01189-8