biostudies-literatureUnknown4(1)Palmeirim AFThe rapid expansion of hydropower across tropical landscapes has caused extensive habitat loss and degradation, triggering biodiversity loss. Despite known risks to freshwater biodiversity, the flooding of terrestrial habitats caused by dam construction, and associated impacts on terrestrial biota, have been rarely considered. To help fill this knowledge gap, we quantified the habitat loss following inundation of hydropower reservoirs across the range of two iconic species, jaguars and tigers. To do so, we compiled existing and planned dams intersecting the distribution of these apex predators. We found 164 dams intersecting the jaguar range, in total flooding 25,397 km². For tigers, we identified 421 dams, amounting to 13,750 km². As hydropower infrastructure is projCommunications biology1358https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8660786biostudies-literatureImpacts of hydropower on the habitat of jaguars and tigers.PMC8660786Palmeirim AFGibson LfalseImpacts of hydropower on the habitat of jaguars and tigers.The rapid expansion of hydropower across tropical landscapes has caused extensive habitat loss and degradation, triggering biodiversity loss. Despite known risks to freshwater biodiversity, the flooding of terrestrial habitats caused by dam construction, and associated impacts on terrestrial biota, have been rarely considered. To help fill this knowledge gap, we quantified the habitat loss following inundation of hydropower reservoirs across the range of two iconic species, jaguars and tigers. To do so, we compiled existing and planned dams intersecting the distribution of these apex predators. We found 164 dams intersecting the jaguar range, in total flooding 25,397 km². For tigers, we identified 421 dams, amounting to 13,750 km². As hydropower infrastructure is proj2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Dec2025-04-04T07:48:01.712Z2025-04-04T07:48:01.712ZS-EPMC86607863488750710.1038/s42003-021-02878-5