Influence of landscape homogenization due to river damming on dragonfly (Odonata) community structuring in a subtropical forest in the southern Atlantic Forest

Human activities affect the structure, dynamics, and energy flow of aquatic ecosystems. River damming, a common anthropic impact in Brazil, changes solar incidence, water flow, and temperature of waterbodies, thereby affecting their fauna. Due to their high sensitivity to environmental changes, the Odonata may be indicators of these impacts. We sampled two ecologically distinct sites, (1) a quasi-pristine forested area; and (2) a nearby human-impacted reservoir landscape, to evaluate the effects of damming on odonate community structure. The species composition of quasi-pristine communities was more heterogeneous and differed almost completely (indicating high turnover) from that of the reservoir-area communities. The capacity of the reservoir to maintain local fauna was almost nil. The communities in the changed landscape had the highest local diversity, which is related to the high occurrence of widespread generalist South American species. We also tested two recently proposed bioindication ratio tools based on the abundance of high-level taxonomic categories; both effectively demonstrated the extent of the impacts of damming. The best performing ratios were Coenagrionidae/other Zygoptera richness ratio, Zygoptera/Anisoptera abundance ratio, and Libellulidae/other Anisoptera richness ratio. The reservoir landscape promotes biotic homogenization. However, the water supply system entails the preservation of part of the native habitat in its surrounding areas, consequently maintaining local biodiversity in quasi-pristine environments.

Active landslides in the Rogun Catchment, Tajikistan, and their river damming hazard potential

The region of Tajikistan where the Rogun Hydropower Project is currently under construction has experienced large and catastrophic slope failures in the past, often triggered by earthquakes. Co-seismic slope failures are thus common and pose a high hazard potential; however, to date, no specific analysis of slope activity in this area has been presented in international journals. Here, we present an inventory of active landslides identified through satellite imagery analysis and in particular by exploiting space-borne differential radar interferometry. Surface displacements provide the basis for the detection of active slope instabilities, which are then further classified by using geomorphological indicators visible in optical satellite imagery. Additionally, the proximity of active landslides to tectonic lineaments, as well as regional seismicity, is analysed to investigate potential relationships and to provide an integrated river damming hazard potential. The results show that approximately 31% of all detected landslides would have a high damming hazard potential upon catastrophic failure, highlighting the importance of such phenomena for efficient long-term land use planning and management of hydropower plants.

Potential Morphologic Responses of Tropical River Deltas in Colombia to Future Sediment Supply Scenarios

<p>Riverine sediment yield changes by human-induced catchment alterations can have important implications for river delta morphology. Here, we assess the potential response of 99 tropical deltas along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia to projected human land use intensifications by deforestation and river damming. We assess delta morphology through the balance of wave, tidal, and (modern and future) river sediment transport processes at their mouths. We find that most Colombian deltas along the Caribbean coast are wave-dominated, except for large catchments with high riverine sediment load, which are river-dominated. Most deltas are wave-river dominated along the Pacific coast, with few examples of river-tide and wave-tide dominance. We predict Colombian deltas to become more wave and tide-dominated under river damming scenarios. In contrast, deforestation scenarios suggested virtually no future morphological changes.</p>