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Hydropower dams cause species extinction


Still Waters

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Scientists have discovered that reservoir islands created by large dams across the world do not maintain the same levels of animal and plant life found prior to flooding.

Despite being hailed as conservation sanctuaries that protect species from hunting and deforestation, islands undergo sustained loss of species year on year after dam construction, a pattern otherwise known as 'extinction debt'.

These findings represent a significant environmental impact that is currently missing from assessment procedures for proposed new dams.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160530101121.htm

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There's something else disappearing:  wildness.  When we keep a wild population in captivity, we tend to remove the wildest and most dangerous animals, like choosing a cantankerous buffalo for slaughter, or feeding the friendliest ones the most.  This changes the character of the population.  We are domesticating wildlife without even knowing we are doing it.  And in the process reducing the genetic diversity that population may one day need to cope with an emergency.  In the US we have several dozen herds of buffalo, but only two are wild.

Doug

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