Predicting the Impact of Damming on the Endangered Mary River Turtle

人们对内河变化对淡水海龟生态的影响知之甚少，因为河流筑坝会导致河流物理、化学和生物特征的戏剧性变化。澳大利亚有446座大型水坝，是水电、航运、防洪、灌溉和饮用水所必需的。其中许多河流居住着澳大利亚特有的淡水海龟，该项目将评估栖息地质量变化对濒危的玛丽河龟(Elusor Macrurus)的影响。这项研究恰逢其时，因为拟议中的河流筑坝将极大地改变海龟的栖息地，其生存潜力仍不得而知。

Little is known about the effects of inland river alteration on the ecology of freshwater turtles, where river damming results in dramatic changes in river physical, chemical and biological characteristics. In Australia there are 446 large dams, necessary for hydro-electric power, navigation, flood control, irrigation and drinking water. Many of these rivers are inhabited by freshwater turtles, endemic to Australia, and this project will assess the impact of changes in habitat quality on the endangered Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus). The study comes at a timely opportunity, as proposed river damming will substantially alter the turtles' habitat, and its survival potential remains unknown.