Quantifying ecological effects of small hydropower in Alpine stream ecosystems

Información del proyecto

SHYDRO-ALP

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 748969

DOI

10.3030/748969

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 22 Febrero 2017

Fecha de inicio 1 Mayo 2017

Fecha de finalización 30 Abril 2019

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 180 277,20

Aportación de la UE

€ 180 277,20

Coordinado por

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO
Italy

Objetivo

In Europe, hydropower is the largest renewable energy resource accounting for 16% of total production, most of which is concentrated in the Alpine region. However, this renewable energy comes at great environmental costs and development of large dams is now considered untenable in many Countries. While studies addressing the ecological implications of hydropower have mostly focused on large facilities, investigations on small hydropower (SHP) are scarcer. Yet, development of SHP is booming globally and in the Alps rising concerns about cumulative effects on riverine systems.
This project proposes a multi-disciplinary investigation to better quantify hydrological alterations from SHP and its effects on Alpine stream ecosystems. Combining field-experiments, surveys and innovative modelling of existing flow data-series, the project will: i) quantify the spatio-temporal scales of hydrologic alterations associated with SHP using integrated analytical tools and modelling approaches applied to long-term, spatially distributed data; ii) experimentally mimic water abstractions from SHP using semi-natural flumes to assess the response of aquatic invertebrates and the link between community assembly and ecosystem function applying the Price Equation partition; iii) quantify flow-ecology relationships and the cumulative effects of multiple SHPs using novel functional regression models with streams hydrographs. The results will provide new insights into the short- and long-term effects of SHP on Alpine streams, with practical implication for the sustainable use of water resources.
During the project, I will train intensively in methods and software to quantify and model alterations of river flow and habitat and in handling large datasets. I will exchange knowledge with modellers, engineers and freshwater ecologists and foster new collaborations, which will benefit my host organisation and myself. The fellowship will also allow me to return to my homeland after a decade.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias naturales › informática y ciencias de la información › software
• ciencias naturales › ciencias de la tierra y ciencias ambientales conexas › hidrología
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › ecología › ecosistemas
• ingeniería y tecnología › ingeniería ambiental › energía y combustibles › energía renovable › hidroelectricidad
• ciencias naturales › ciencias biológicas › zoología › zoología de los invertebrados

Programa(s)

• H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions PROGRAMA PRINCIPAL
  
• H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
  

Tema(s)

• MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships
  

Régimen de financiación

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

Convocatoria de propuestas

H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

Coordinador

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO

• Aportación neta de la UEn: € 180 277,20
• Dirección: VIA CALEPINA 14 ; 38122 TRENTO ; Italia
• Región: Nord-Est › Provincia Autonoma di Trento › Trento
• Tipo de actividad: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Coste total: € 180 277,20