Scientists from Brazil’s Federal University of Goiás report that building new hydroelectric dams in the southern region threatens a substantial portion of the habitat of the endangered freshwater Williams turtle. The findings appear in the Journal of Applied Ecology, a peer‑reviewed publication that consolidates field data and environmental modeling to assess species risk amid energy development.
Williams’ turtles are localized to select pockets of the Atlantic rainforest and the Pampa, a geographic corridor that touches Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. The study maps where the species could potentially live and compares that with the footprint of hydroelectric projects to gauge overlap and risk.
Researchers compiled georeferenced records from the National Electricity Agency (ANEEL) and analyzed 687 proposed and existing hydroelectric projects. Among these, 406 plants were already in operation, 48 were under construction, and 233 were in the planning pipeline. The overlap between hydroelectric infrastructure and highly suitable Williams turtle habitat emerged as a clear pattern in the results.
The analysis foresees a worsening scenario with the growth of small hydropower facilities. In many cases, the land and water areas affected by small projects will rival those impacted by large dams, broadening the threat to the species. Dams flood critical habitats and erase streams that Williams turtles depend on, forcing daily migrations in search of safer homes. Yet barriers created by dams can block these movements, trapping turtles in unsuitable areas and increasing mortality from predation, disease, or desiccation.
As hydropower expansion continues, the difficulty of relocating and protecting Williams turtles grows. The study highlights the need for careful site selection, enhanced habitat connectivity, and targeted conservation measures to mitigate impacts while still advancing renewable energy goals.
One key takeaway is that this work represents the first comprehensive assessment of hydroelectric development’s effect on Williams turtles. The authors argue that their methods provide a blueprint for planning to lessen the harm from hydropower expansion on freshwater turtles and that the same approach could be applied to other endangered species facing similar pressures.
Earlier researchers identified three main reasons behind the decline of koalas in Australia, illustrating how habitat loss, fragmentation, and human activity can drive species toward extinction when not managed with urgent, science‑based intervention.