Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities

Abstract Dam construction alters river hydrology, influencing the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of fish communities. This study utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing to analyze seasonal variations in fish communities in the Duliu River, Guizhou Province, and to assess the impact of hydro...

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Main Authors: Ruiyuan Zhang, Fujiang Huang, Hanwei Yang, Peng Zeng, Xiuhui Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98750-1
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author Ruiyuan Zhang
Fujiang Huang
Hanwei Yang
Peng Zeng
Xiuhui Ma
author_facet Ruiyuan Zhang
Fujiang Huang
Hanwei Yang
Peng Zeng
Xiuhui Ma
author_sort Ruiyuan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dam construction alters river hydrology, influencing the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of fish communities. This study utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing to analyze seasonal variations in fish communities in the Duliu River, Guizhou Province, and to assess the impact of hydrological regulation on biodiversity. High-throughput sequencing revealed that sequence reads were significantly higher in the dry season than in the wet season (P < 0.05), while operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness was greater in the wet season. A total of 69 fish species (6 orders, 18 families) were detected in the dry season, with only 23 species matching historical records. eDNA sequencing identified an additional 46 species, primarily from the order Cypriniformes. In the wet season, 82 species (7 orders, 17 families) were recorded, including 44 species not found in historical data. Cypriniformes dominated in both seasons, comprising 94% of the community in the dry season and 82% in the wet season. Spatial heterogeneity analysis using principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) indicated significant differences among river sections (PC1 = 65.2% in the dry season; 83.65% in the wet season). Beta diversity analysis (NMDS) confirmed significant temporal and spatial variation in fish communities (P < 0.05). This study highlights the ecological impact of dam construction on fish communities and underscores the need for conservation strategies to protect biodiversity in regulated mountain rivers.
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spelling doaj-art-044cc16357784d15a60d8fbc9168a9e32025-08-20T03:52:19ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-98750-1Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communitiesRuiyuan Zhang0Fujiang Huang1Hanwei Yang2Peng Zeng3Xiuhui Ma4School of Animal Science, Guizhou UniversityFisheries Research Institute, Academy of Agricultural Sciences of GuizhouSchool of Animal Science, Guizhou UniversitySchool of Animal Science, Guizhou UniversitySchool of Animal Science, Guizhou UniversityAbstract Dam construction alters river hydrology, influencing the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of fish communities. This study utilized environmental DNA (eDNA) sequencing to analyze seasonal variations in fish communities in the Duliu River, Guizhou Province, and to assess the impact of hydrological regulation on biodiversity. High-throughput sequencing revealed that sequence reads were significantly higher in the dry season than in the wet season (P < 0.05), while operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness was greater in the wet season. A total of 69 fish species (6 orders, 18 families) were detected in the dry season, with only 23 species matching historical records. eDNA sequencing identified an additional 46 species, primarily from the order Cypriniformes. In the wet season, 82 species (7 orders, 17 families) were recorded, including 44 species not found in historical data. Cypriniformes dominated in both seasons, comprising 94% of the community in the dry season and 82% in the wet season. Spatial heterogeneity analysis using principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) indicated significant differences among river sections (PC1 = 65.2% in the dry season; 83.65% in the wet season). Beta diversity analysis (NMDS) confirmed significant temporal and spatial variation in fish communities (P < 0.05). This study highlights the ecological impact of dam construction on fish communities and underscores the need for conservation strategies to protect biodiversity in regulated mountain rivers.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98750-1BiodiversityeDNA metabarcodingDamSpatial heterogeneityFish community structure
spellingShingle Ruiyuan Zhang
Fujiang Huang
Hanwei Yang
Peng Zeng
Xiuhui Ma
Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
Scientific Reports
Biodiversity
eDNA metabarcoding
Dam
Spatial heterogeneity
Fish community structure
title Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
title_full Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
title_fullStr Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
title_short Investigating the impact of the construction of the Duliu River dam in China on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
title_sort investigating the impact of the construction of the duliu river dam in china on the spatiotemporal changes of fish communities
topic Biodiversity
eDNA metabarcoding
Dam
Spatial heterogeneity
Fish community structure
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98750-1
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