Unprecedented social-ecological impacts of the 2023 extreme drought in the central Amazon

While the 2023 record-breaking drought led to widespread social-ecological impacts across Amazonia, local impacts of such extreme events are rarely described in detail. Here we leverage a large interdisciplinary data collection related to social and ecological impacts in the Central Amazon. Compound hazards (reduced river water levels, lack of rainfall, high water/air temperatures, river erosion and fire smoke) led to major impacts, including an unprecedented mortality of 209 river dolphins and blooms of the potentially ichthyotoxic Euglena sanguinea phytoplankton. Fish kills in lakes and changes in caiman relative abundance along floodplain channels were observed, as well as lower-than-usual production of flowers and fruits in floodplain trees. Impaired river transportation was the main socio-economic impact, affecting important value chains such as the arapaima fisheries and manioc flour production, as well as access to healthcare, drinking water and urban markets. Our results also show the contrasting impacts between rural and urban populations, with the latter presenting a higher resilience throughout the event. Continuous records of impacts like those presented here are fundamental to guide future disaster management policies in Amazonia. This is particularly important to help vulnerable remote people and ecosystems during extreme hydro-climatic events, which are likely to increase in the near future.

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Publication Details

Journal
Scientific Reports
Published
2025-11-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-25125-x
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.31

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article

Unprecedented social-ecological impacts of the 2023 extreme drought in the central Amazon

Bruna Mendel, Alexandre Pucci Hercos, Flávio França, Ana Paula Prestes et al.
1 citations
Scientific Reports
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
2.31
article

Unprecedented social-ecological impacts of the 2023 extreme drought in the central Amazon

Bruna Mendel, Alexandre Pucci Hercos, Flávio França, Ana Paula Prestes, Maria Cecília Rosinski Lima Gomes, Diogo de Lima Franco, Augusto Costa, D. H. M. Costa, Karine Galisteo Diemer Lopes, Carolina Gomes Sarmento, Thiago Bicudo, A.M.F.R. Pinto, Maiby Glorize da Silva Bandeira, André Zumak, Brenda de Meireles Lima, Yana Karine da Silva Coêlho, Ana Cláudia Torres Gonçalves, Heloísa Corrêa Pereira, Ayan Santos Fleischmann, Tabatha Benitz, Kelly Torralvo, José Lino Costa, Fernanda Pozzan Paim, Juliana Rodrigues Larrosa Oler, DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO MENDES, Fernanda Pereira Silva, Miriam Marmontel, João Paulo Borges Pedro, Paula dos Santos Silva, Daniel Tregidgo, Renan Nascimento, Fernanda Leopoldina Viana, Rafael Magalhães Rabelo, Louise Maranhão, Lady L. M. Custódio, Rodrigo Xavier, Alexandra Silva, Débora Hymans, João Valsecchi do Amaral, Jessica Cardoso Lopes, Raize Mendes, Priscila Camelo
article en
1 citations

Abstract

While the 2023 record-breaking drought led to widespread social-ecological impacts across Amazonia, local impacts of such extreme events are rarely described in detail. Here we leverage a large interdisciplinary data collection related to social and ecological impacts in the Central Amazon. Compound hazards (reduced river water levels, lack of rainfall, high water/air temperatures, river erosion and fire smoke) led to major impacts, including an unprecedented mortality of 209 river dolphins and blooms of the potentially ichthyotoxic Euglena sanguinea phytoplankton. Fish kills in lakes and changes in caiman relative abundance along floodplain channels were observed, as well as lower-than-usual production of flowers and fruits in floodplain trees. Impaired river transportation was the main socio-economic impact, affecting important value chains such as the arapaima fisheries and manioc flour production, as well as access to healthcare, drinking water and urban markets. Our results also show the contrasting impacts between rural and urban populations, with the latter presenting a higher resilience throughout the event. Continuous records of impacts like those presented here are fundamental to guide future disaster management policies in Amazonia. This is particularly important to help vulnerable remote people and ecosystems during extreme hydro-climatic events, which are likely to increase in the near future.

Scientific ReportsVol. 15(1)
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (BR), WilderShares (United States) (US), Universidad de Chiclayo (PE), Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes (VE), Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá (BR), Instituto Federal do Amazonas (BR), Universidade Federal do Amazonas (BR)
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
2.31
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