Abstract
Human population growth and rapid development in Malaysia have created a rising demand for power. In order to meet this demand, hydropower has been identified as an alternative energy source due to the suitability of the climate and topography. The development of a hydroelectric dam, however, could impact natural habitats and their components, including the herpetofaunas. The Hulu Terengganu Hydroelectric Project (HTHEP) is one of the hydroelectric dam projects in Peninsular Malaysia that has extended the capacity of the existing Kenyir Dam. The impacts of the HTHEP on the herpetofaunal assemblage were studied during the dam construction and impoundment phases, from July 2014 to October 2015. Fenced pitfall traps and visual encounter surveys were used to obtain samples. Rescue operations were conducted at the Puah and Tembat Reservoirs after impoundment. A total of 22 species of amphibians and 34 species of reptilians were recorded. During the construction phase, both amphibians and reptilians decreased in species richness. During impoundment, the species richness and abundance of amphibians decreased abruptly because most populations were affected by the inundation, and only a few large adult individuals were found. Many cryptic reptilian species were found at the reservoir, especially Bronchocela cristatella. The amphibian and reptilian populations are anticipated to increase gradually, following the rejuvenation of their habitats. A theoretical impact model was developed for both the amphibian and reptilian communities for each dam development stage, with the aim of assisting conservation efforts in future sustainable dam development projects.
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Izam, N.A.M. et al. (2020). Sustainable Dam Development: A Study of Dam Environmental Impact on the Herpetofauna in Hulu Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. In: Mohd Sidek, L., Salih, G., Boosroh, M. (eds) ICDSME 2019. ICDSME 2019. Water Resources Development and Management. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1971-0_46
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