title: Fragmentation and flow regulation of the world's large river systems.
abstract: A global overview of dam-based impacts on large river systems shows that over half (172 out of 292) are affected by dams, including the eight most biogeographically diverse. Dam-impacted catchments experience higher irrigation pressure and about 25 times more economic activity per unit of water than do unaffected catchments. In view of projected changes in climate and water resource use, these findings can be used to identify ecological risks associated with further impacts on large river systems.
authors.affiliation: Landscape Ecology Group, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. christer.nilsson@emg.umu.se
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Reidy
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dynesius
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Revenga
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D006802:Human Activities; D045483:Rivers; D014197:Trees; D014872:Water Movements