Environmental impacts of reservoirs

Question 1

What are the environmental impacts of reservoirs

Answer 1

• Habitat change
• Wildlife / migration barriers
• changes in river flow downstream of dams
• Sedimentation
• reservoir micro-climate (local abiotic factors)

Question 2

How do reservoirs impact the environment and cause habitat change

Answer 2

Freshwater habitats upstream become flooded from the dam
Downstream of the dam it will be dryer due to the dam

Question 3

How do reservoirs impact migration of organisms

Answer 3

Building a dam stops the flow of water and creates a migration barrier which prevents fish from reaching spawning grounds causing there to be a reduced number of offspring

Question 4

How do reservoirs change river flow downstream of dams

Answer 4

Less water arrives down stream which causes downstream to become smaller and dry up
This also means there is less water for organisms downstream which could lead to extinction

Question 5

How do reservoirs cause sedimentation and impact the environment

Answer 5

Rivers carry suspended particles
when river flow decreases the particles settle as velocity of the water slows
Particles drop out of water upstream behind the dam
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