Nervous habitat patches: The effect of hydropeaking on habitat dynamics

Alteration in the river flow regime due to intermittent hydropower production (i.e., hydropeaking) leads biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation worldwide. Due increasing shear of volatile green energy wind solar), hydropeaking frequency is deemed increase coming decades. However, our mechanistic understanding how repeated series multiple events) affects ecological processes still limited. Here, we reflect on impacts altered relative duration persistency aquatic habitats. We focus habitats at patch-scale, being this scale representing what organisms perceive when interacting with their environment. With a showcase explore temporally explicit approach quantify habitat dynamics patch-scale hydropeaking. then review changes may affect processes. Our findings suggest that (i) time-series allows account for inherent multi-event nature hydropeaking; (ii) can single patches by least one order magnitude if compared unregulated rivers; (iii) patch survival more sessile species life cycle stages (e.g., invertebrates) or budget mobile adult fish). significance potential environmental thresholds are poorly investigated need further attention. Moreover, methods aggregation from reach-scale not available yet.