Freshwater biodiversity impacts of global hydropower dams

Abstract Hydropower expansion creates tension between renewable energy goals and freshwater ecosystem health. However, the global impacts of dams across the full spectrum of freshwater biodiversity remain poorly quantified. Here, we combine remote sensing and global threatened species datasets to assess dam-related risk patterns for fish, mollusks, mammals, odonates, and amphibians. We show that threatened freshwater species are consistently more common near dams than elsewhere, with mammals showing the highest exposure. Most species whose risk status changed between 1996 and 2022 shifted toward higher threat levels in dam-influenced areas affected by habitat loss and reduced river connectivity. Planned future dams, concentrated in Global South countries, may further elevate extinction risk, particularly for critically endangered fish. These findings support sustainable planning that balances energy development with freshwater conservation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Communications Earth & Environment
Published
2026-02-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03263-y
Primary Topic
Fish Ecology and Management Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Freshwater biodiversity impacts of global hydropower dams

Sicong Gao, Christopher O’Bryan, Beiming Cai, Zunyi Xie et al.
Communications Earth & Environment
Fish Ecology and Management Studies
article

Freshwater biodiversity impacts of global hydropower dams

Sicong Gao, Christopher O’Bryan, Beiming Cai, Zunyi Xie, Qinghe Zhao, Changhong Miao, Hongkai Gao, Mingming Jia, Guanpeng Dong, Eve McDonald-Madden, Jianguo Li, Miao Li, Na Ding, Zongming Wang, Xiaoming Wang
article en

Abstract

Abstract Hydropower expansion creates tension between renewable energy goals and freshwater ecosystem health. However, the global impacts of dams across the full spectrum of freshwater biodiversity remain poorly quantified. Here, we combine remote sensing and global threatened species datasets to assess dam-related risk patterns for fish, mollusks, mammals, odonates, and amphibians. We show that threatened freshwater species are consistently more common near dams than elsewhere, with mammals showing the highest exposure. Most species whose risk status changed between 1996 and 2022 shifted toward higher threat levels in dam-influenced areas affected by habitat loss and reduced river connectivity. Planned future dams, concentrated in Global South countries, may further elevate extinction risk, particularly for critically endangered fish. These findings support sustainable planning that balances energy development with freshwater conservation.

Communications Earth & EnvironmentVol. 7(1)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU), The University of Queensland (AU), Henan University (CN), University of Canberra (AU), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Maastricht University (NL), Henan University of Engineering (CN), Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology (CN), Heilongjiang University (CN), Monash University (AU), East China Normal University (CN)
Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Government of Jilin Province, Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Science and Technology Department of Gansu Province, Youth Innovation Promotion Association
Openalex Percentile: Top 73%
Fish Ecology and Management Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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