In the last twenty years, multiple large and small hydroelectric dams have begun to transform the Amazonian region, spawning a growing volume of academic research across diverse disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields. In this article, we offer a critical review of recent research related to hydropower and sustainability with a focus on the Brazilian Amazon. We revisit the sustainability concept to include the contribution of various knowledge fields and perspectives for understanding, managing and making decisions about social-ecological systems transformed by dams. We conducted a literature review in Web of Science of academic publications centered in the past 5 years (2014–2019), on diverse aspects of hydropower planning, construction, operation and monitoring in the Brazilian Amazon. We present results of a co-occurrence network analysis of publications, highlighting bridging fields, network disconnections, and opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Finally, we report recent advances in the understanding and management of social-ecological systems in Amazonian watersheds, including biophysical, socio-economic, governance and development processes linked to hydropower planning and implementation. This review identifies knowledge gaps and future research directions, highlighting opportunities for improved communication among scientists, practitioners, decision-makers, indigenous peoples and local communities.

在过去的二十年中，多个大型水坝和小型水坝已开始改造亚马逊地区，从而产生了跨学科和跨学科领域的学术研究。在本文中，我们对与水电和可持续性相关的最新研究进行了重要的评论，重点是巴西亚马逊。我们重新审视了可持续发展的概念，以纳入各种知识领域和观点的贡献，以理解，管理和决策有关大坝改造的社会生态系统。我们在过去五年（2014-2019年）的学术出版物中对Web of Science进行了文献综述，涉及巴西亚马逊水电规划，建设，运营和监控的各个方面。我们介绍了出版物共现网络分析的结果，重点介绍了桥接领域，网络断开连接和跨学科研究的机会。最后，我们报告了在亚马逊流域对社会生态系统的理解和管理方面的最新进展，包括与水电规划和实施相关的生物物理，社会经济，治理和发展过程。这次审查指出了知识差距和未来的研究方向，着重指出了改善科学家，从业者，决策者，土著人民和地方社区之间交流的机会。我们报告了亚马逊河流域对社会生态系统的理解和管理方面的最新进展，包括与水电规划和实施相关的生物物理，社会经济，治理和发展过程。这次审查指出了知识差距和未来的研究方向，着重指出了改善科学家，从业者，决策者，土著人民和地方社区之间交流的机会。我们报告了亚马逊河流域对社会生态系统的理解和管理方面的最新进展，包括与水电规划和实施相关的生物物理，社会经济，治理和发展过程。这次审查指出了知识差距和未来的研究方向，着重指出了改善科学家，从业者，决策者，土著人民和地方社区之间交流的机会。