Assessing the ecological effects of waterway regulations: Accounting for ecological niche differences among species
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • A new method was proposed to evaluate the ecological effect of the regulations in large rivers. • Riverbed stability, weighted usable area, habitat fragmentation, and habitat connectivity were integrated through ecological niches in this framework. • The mechanism by which waterway regulations affect aquatic habitats has been clarified. • The ecological effect of waterway regulations tends to be overestimated without considering ecological niche differences among species. Waterway regulations (WRs) in large rivers improve channel capacity but can significantly impact aquatic habitats. Due to the high heterogeneity of habitats, quantitatively assessing the impact of WRs on river ecosystems remains challenging. Here, we propose the MUlti-species Habitat assessment for LArge Rivers (MUSHLAR), which integrates the ecological niches of aquatic organisms by incorporating species-specific habitat patch requirements and behavioral traits. MUSHLAR combines riverbed stability, weighted usable area, habitat fragmentation, and habitat connectivity into a comprehensive habitat suitability index (CHI). The total comprehensive habitat suitability for multiple species is derived by weighting the CHI of each species according to its proportional biomass contribution. This method was applied to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, China, with benthos and the four major Chinese carps selected as target species. Results showed that the WRs increased the spatial heterogeneity of hydrodynamic conditions. The suitable ecological discharge range for this river reach was identified as 17,500–20,000 m 3 /s, higher than the range suggested by traditional methods. During low-flow conditions, the WRs improved habitat suitability for benthos by enhancing riverbed stability (RBS). However, under high discharge conditions, it negatively affected the habitat quality and connectivity for the four major Chinese carps. Traditional methods tended to overestimate the ecological effects on aquatic organisms. This study offers a robust approach for evaluating the ecological effects of WRs in large rivers and provides insights for designing eco-friendly navigation channels globally.
Source: Ecological Indicators
Authors: Jianhua Liu, Zhonghua Yang, Jun Li, Miaoli Lin, Yang Liu, Xiaoliang Liu
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,650
OpenAlex ID: W4414414324