Ecological risk of aquatic habitat degradation

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5726809

Loar, J M

Habitat degradation constitutes a significant risk to the biotic integrity of freshwater ecosystems, especially streams and rivers. The degradation can result from any action that alters the physical or chemical attributes of a stream, thus reducing its utilization by biota. Activities that are known to degrade aquatic habitats include dredging and filling of wetlands; stream channel realignment; destruction of riparian vegetation; modifications in flow regimes, including both temporal shifts and spatial changes; and siltation caused by soil erosion and runoff. The ecological consequences of these activities occur on varying spatial scales, from highly localized effects, such as small stream channelization projects to control residential flooding, to river basin-level effects from the construction of large dams for hydropower generation or for water storage in support of agricultural development. By reducing habitat quality and availability, all of these activities can impact biotic populations that inhabit freshwater environments. 6 refs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5726809
• Report Number(s): CONF-910812-2-Extd.Abst.; ON: DE91012050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540350* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
550100 -- Behavioral Biology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BENTHOS
DAMS
ECOLOGY
ECONOMICS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENDANGERED SPECIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FISHES
FRESH WATER
HABITAT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IRRIGATION
MATERIALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEDIMENTS
TOXIC MATERIALS
VERTEBRATES
WATER