Native and Non-Native Species Responses to Barrier Removals

The multi-faceted threats of habitat degradation and biological invasions are increasing concerns for the integrity of freshwater ecosystems and their associated services globally. Removal of anthropogenic riverine barriers has gained momentum over the last three decades, driven by the maintenance requirements of aging infrastructure, and serves as a primary means of restoring river connectivity to promote ecosystem recovery and native biodiversity. Although barrier removals are intended to benefit native species’ dispersal, these actions can simultaneously facilitate the spread of non-native species and increase the risk of biological invasion, creating a conservation paradox. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis, we synthesized patterns and trends in responses to riverine barrier removals between native and non-native populations globally.

Dolan, E. J., Soto, I., Olden, J. D., Tonkin, J. D., He, F., Carneiro, L., Dick, J. T. A., and Cuthbert, R. N. 2026. Native and non‐native populations respond unevenly to river barrier removals. Global Change Biology 32(6), e70941.‍ ‍Article