Hydroelectric dam constructions in Amazonas

[Quixotic]

A writeup from PlanetCatfish regarding the construction of dams and the possible impact to the life in the Rio Xingu and Rio Madeira basins.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=360

Looks like one of the dams will be built, starting late 2008 and finished by 2012, with more dams to follow. Don't look good. How many fish species are going to be affected? There has to be at least hundreds of fish species (including Hypancistrus zebra) from the basins.

And when fish species are affected, the entire food chain will be affected as well, like birds, reptiles and others.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/v...ca9f1d5fa6b0d0

[kuching]

Wow! Damn the dam! It is also happening here in Sarawak....building dams in some rivers!

[celticfish]

Oh Dang! The idiots are really going to build it.
This can only end in the demise of countless species...

I believe the main "problem" is the disappearence of flooded areas in the rainy season.
It is this annual flooding that gives some species, most species the right conditions to reproduce.
The dam will effectively stop the flooding effect hence affect the breeding season...
No to mention drowning the plants in the dam area.
btw how do you dam a river that expands several fold?!?

What in the world is IBAMA doing?!?
They might as well lift the export ban so that as amany species and specimens can get to hobbyist before its too late.
Otherwise what is out there with the hobbyist will be "living-on" with sub-nominal genetic diversity.

Okay I've ranted enough.
Thanks for reading my rantings.