Abstract
Systematic meta-analyses were conducted on the ecological impacts of water management, including effects of (i) dewatering on macroinvertebrates, (ii) a hypolimnetic release on downstream aquatic fish and macro invertebrate communities, and (iii) flow modification on fluvial and habitat generalists. Our meta-analysis indicates, in general, that (i) macroinvertebrate abundance is lower in zones or areas that have been dewatered as a result of water fluctuations or low flows (overall effect size, –1.64; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), –2.51, –0.77), (ii) hypolimnetic draws are associated with reduced abundance of aquatic (fish and macroinvertebrates) communities (overall effect size, –0.84; 95% CIs, –1.38, –0.33) and macroinvertebrates (overall effect size, –0.73; 95% CIs, –1.24, –0.22) downstream of a dam, and (iii) altered flows are associated with reduced abundance of fluvial specialists (–0.42; 95% CIs, –0.81, –0.02) but not habitat generalists (overall effect size, –0.14; 95% CIs, –0.61, 0.32). Publication bias is evident in several of the meta-analyses; however, multiple experiments from a single study may be contributing to this bias. Fail-safe Ns suggest that many (>100) studies showing positive or no effects of water management on the selected endpoints would be required to qualitatively change the results of the meta-analysis, which in turn suggests that the conclusions are reasonably robust.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.