Development and validation of an environmental fragility index (EFI) for the neotropical savannah biome.

ABSTRACT: Augmented production and transport of fine sediments resulting from increased human activities are major threats to freshwater ecosystems, including reservoirs and their ecosystem services. To support large scale assessment of the likelihood of soil erosion and reservoir sedimentation, we developed and validated an environmental fragility index (EFI) for the Brazilian neotropical savannah. The EFI was derived from measured geoclimatic controls on sediment production (rainfall, variation of elevation and slope, geology) and anthropogenic pressures (natural cover, road density, distance from roads and urban centers) in 111 catchments upstream of four large hydroelectric reservoirs. We evaluated the effectiveness of the EFI by regressing it against a relative bed stability index (LRBS) that a

SUBMITTER: Macedo DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6126927 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature