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Cogoni D, Calderisi G, Collu D, Fenu G. Tourist Trampling on a Peripheral Plant Population Restricted to an Urban Natural Area in the Capo Sant'Elia Promontory (Sardinia, W-Mediterranean Basin). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:881. [PMID: 38592883 PMCID: PMC10975548 DOI: 10.3390/plants13060881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Urban natural areas provide important ecological services such as biodiversity conservation, as well as opportunities for people to connect with nature and preserve cultural heritage. However, the increasing demand for access to natural areas and the expansion of human recreational activities, such as hiking and biking, pose threats to these ecosystems, especially for animal and plant species, finally resulting in biodiversity loss. This study explores the intricate link between human trampling, plant density, and the morphological and reproductive characteristics of Globularia alypum L., a plant with a peripheral population in Sardinia restricted to a natural area within an urban context. The study examined trampling effects on 75 plots along a frequently used path crossing the plant's core population. Similar environmental conditions were assumed, with differences attributed to human trampling intensity and plant density, and morphological and reproductive traits were measured within each plot. Our results showed that human trampling caused differences in the morphological traits of plants, whereas, in contrast, reproductive traits are less vulnerable to human trampling than morphological ones. As a result, trampled areas may experience decreased plant recruitment, which can have long-term implications for plant population dynamics. Understanding the relationship between trampling effects and the sensitivity of peripheral plant populations is crucial for effective conservation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Fenu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via S. Ignazio da Laconi 13, I-09123 Cagliari, Italy; (D.C.); (G.C.); (D.C.)
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2
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Tirrell AJ, Putnam AE, Cianchette MIJ, Gill JL. Using photogrammetry to create virtual permanent plots in rare and threatened plant communities. APPLICATIONS IN PLANT SCIENCES 2023; 11:e11534. [PMID: 37915437 PMCID: PMC10617319 DOI: 10.1002/aps3.11534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Premise Many plant communities across the world are undergoing changes due to climate change, human disturbance, and other threats. These community-level changes are often tracked with the use of permanent vegetative plots, but this approach is not always feasible. As an alternative, we propose using photogrammetry, specifically photograph-based digital surface models (DSMs) developed using structure-from-motion, to establish virtual permanent plots in plant communities where the use of permanent structures may not be possible. Methods In 2021 and 2022, we took iPhone photographs to record species presence in 1-m2 plots distributed across alpine communities in the northeastern United States. We then compared field estimates of percent coverage with coverage estimated using DSMs. Results Digital surface models can provide effective, minimally invasive, and permanent records of plant species presence and percent coverage, while also allowing managers to mark survey locations virtually for long-term monitoring. We found that percent coverage estimated from DSMs did not differ from field estimates for most species and substrates. Discussion In order to continue surveying efforts in areas where permanent structures or other surveying methods are not feasible, photogrammetry and structure-from-motion methods can provide a low-cost approach that allows agencies to accurately survey and record sensitive plant communities through time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea J. Tirrell
- School of Biology and EcologyUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
| | - Aaron E. Putnam
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
- School of Earth and Climate SciencesUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
| | | | - Jacquelyn L. Gill
- School of Biology and EcologyUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
- Climate Change InstituteUniversity of MaineOronoMaine04469USA
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3
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Chardon NI, Stone P, Hilbert C, Maclachlan T, Ragsdale B, Zhao A, Goodwin K, Collins CG, Hewitt N, Elphinstone C. Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3040. [PMID: 37687287 PMCID: PMC10489881 DOI: 10.3390/plants12173040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Human disturbance, such as trampling, is an integral component of global change, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of its effects on alpine ecosystems. Many alpine systems are seeing a rapid increase in recreation and in understudied regions, such as the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, yet disturbance impacts on alpine plants remain unclear. We surveyed disturbed (trail-side) and undisturbed (off-trail) transects along elevational gradients of popular hiking trails in the T'ak't'ak'múy'in tl'a In'inyáxa7n region (Garibaldi Provincial Park), Canada, focusing on dominant shrubs (Phyllodoce empetriformis, Cassiope mertensiana, Vaccinium ovalifolium) and graminoids (Carex spp). We used a hierarchical Bayesian framework to test for disturbance by elevation effects on total plant percent cover, maximum plant height and diameter (growth proxies), and buds, flowers, and fruits (reproduction proxies). We found that trampling reduces plant cover and impacts all species, but that effects vary by species and trait, and disturbance effects only vary with elevation for one species' trait. Growth traits are more sensitive to trampling than reproductive traits, which may lead to differential impacts on population persistence and species-level fitness outcomes. Our study highlights that disturbance responses are species-specific, and this knowledge can help land managers minimize disturbance impacts on sensitive vegetation types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Isabelle Chardon
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (P.S.); (K.G.); (C.G.C.); (C.E.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Philippa Stone
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (P.S.); (K.G.); (C.G.C.); (C.E.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Carly Hilbert
- University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (C.H.); (T.M.); (B.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Teagan Maclachlan
- University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (C.H.); (T.M.); (B.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Brianna Ragsdale
- University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (C.H.); (T.M.); (B.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Allen Zhao
- University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (C.H.); (T.M.); (B.R.); (A.Z.)
| | - Katie Goodwin
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (P.S.); (K.G.); (C.G.C.); (C.E.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Courtney G. Collins
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (P.S.); (K.G.); (C.G.C.); (C.E.)
| | - Nina Hewitt
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
| | - Cassandra Elphinstone
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (P.S.); (K.G.); (C.G.C.); (C.E.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Unceded xməθkəy’əm (Musqueam) Territory, 3156-6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Imamura K, Takano KT, Yoshida Y, Nakashizuka T, Managi S. Effects of information provision on willingness to pay for conservation of alpine plants in Japan. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 342:118175. [PMID: 37301025 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Information provision is essential for obtaining the cooperation of the general public for the conservation of unfamiliar ecosystems towards a sustainable (e.g. carbon-neutral and nature-positive) society. The purpose of this study is to identify effective ways of raising public awareness for ecosystem conservation. We explored the interaction between the manner of information provision (i.e. the medium through which and how much information is provided) and the personal attributes (e.g. environmental attitude) of the recipients on their willingness to pay (WTP) for conservation using Japanese alpine plants as the subject. Discrete choice experiments using an online survey were conducted with public citizens aged 20-69 years across Japan, and data from 8457 respondents were analysed. The data analysis was performed in two steps: 1) estimating individual WTP and 2) exploring factors affecting WTP. The results demonstrated that individual WTP was 135,798 ± 82,840 (mean ± standard deviation) JPY per person for a lifetime. The WTP increased when information was provided in the form of short texts and graphics for those proactive about nature conservation, but increased more when video information was provided to those reactive about nature conservation. The study shows that ecosystem conservation groups need to adapt the amount and format of information for target audiences (e.g. Generation Z youth, who are more sustainability-oriented and prefer to accomplish more in less time).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Imamura
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Global and Local Environment Co-creation Institute, Ibaraki University, 2-2-35 Sakuragawa, Mito City, Ibaraki, 310-0801, Japan.
| | - Kohei Takenaka Takano
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Natural Environment Division, Nagano Environmental Conservation Research Institute, 2054-120 Kitago, Nagano-shi, Nagano, 381-0075, Japan.
| | - Yumi Yoshida
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8572, Japan; Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics, Rissho University, 4-2-6 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-8602, Japan
| | - Tohru Nakashizuka
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan; Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8687, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Managi
- Urban Institute & Department of Civil Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
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Alvarez MA, Bonjour LDJ, Barros A, Vázquez DP, Aschero V. Distribución de plantas nativas y exóticas a lo largo de gradientes de elevación en senderos de montaña en los Andes de Mendoza, Argentina. BOLETÍN DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE BOTÁNICA 2023. [DOI: 10.31055/1851.2372.v58.n1.38528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introducción y objetivos: El cambio climático, el ganado y el creciente uso turístico favorecen la dispersión de plantas exóticas, amenazando la conservación de los ecosistemas altoandinos. Estudiamos los patrones de distribución de plantas nativas y exóticas en senderos recreativos de montaña. M&M: Implementamos el protocolo MIREN en seis senderos (2400-3600 m s.n.m.) en dos áreas protegidas de los Andes centrales de Mendoza en las Cordilleras Frontal y Principal. Resultados: Encontramos 180 especies nativas y 41 exóticas. La riqueza de especies nativas fue máxima a elevaciones intermedias, mientras que la riqueza de exóticas disminuyó con la elevación. La riqueza regional de nativas fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal que en la Principal (114 versus 71 nativas, respectivamente) mientras que la riqueza regional de exóticas fue menor en la Frontal que en la Principal (20 versus 28 exóticas, respectivamente). La riqueza de exóticas por parcela fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal que en la Principal. El rango de distribución altitudinal de exóticas fue mayor en la Cordillera Frontal. Dos exóticas abundantes, Taraxacum officinale y Cerastium arvense, estuvieron a lo largo de todo el gradiente en la Cordillera Frontal, alcanzando los 3600 m s.n.m. Encontramos siete exóticas no citadas anteriormente. Conclusiones: Los nuevos registros amplían los rangos de distribución conocidos para algunas especies exóticas. A pesar de que el número de especies exóticas fue similar cerca y lejos de los senderos, cinco especies sólo estuvieron en los bordes de los mismos, lo que sugiere que los senderos favorecen los procesos de invasión.
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Filazzola A, Xie G, Barrett K, Dunn A, Johnson MTJ, MacIvor JS. Using smartphone-GPS data to quantify human activity in green spaces. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010725. [PMID: 36520687 PMCID: PMC9754188 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cities are growing in density and coverage globally, increasing the value of green spaces for human health and well-being. Understanding the interactions between people and green spaces is also critical for biological conservation and sustainable development. However, quantifying green space use is particularly challenging. We used an activity index of anonymized GPS data from smart devices provided by Mapbox (www.mapbox.com) to characterize human activity in green spaces in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. The goals of our study were to describe i) a methodological example of how anonymized GPS data could be used for human-nature research and ii) associations between park features and human activity. We describe some of the challenges and solutions with using this activity index, especially in the context of green spaces and biodiversity monitoring. We found the activity index was strongly correlated with visitation records (i.e., park reservations) and that these data are useful to identify high or low-usage areas within green spaces. Parks with a more extensive trail network typically experienced higher visitation rates and a substantial proportion of activity remained on trails. We identified certain land covers that were more frequently associated with human presence, such as rock formations, and find a relationship between human activity and tree composition. Our study demonstrates that anonymized GPS data from smart devices are a powerful tool for spatially quantifying human activity in green spaces. These could help to minimize trade-offs in the management of green spaces for human use and biological conservation will continue to be a significant challenge over the coming decades because of accelerating urbanization coupled with population growth. Importantly, we include a series of recommendations when using activity indexes for managing green spaces that can assist with biomonitoring and supporting sustainable human use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Filazzola
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Apex Resource Management Solutions, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Garland Xie
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Andrea Dunn
- Conservation Halton, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc T. J. Johnson
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Scott MacIvor
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Apex Resource Management Solutions, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Influence of Anthropogenic Activities and Major Natural Factors on Vegetation Changes in Global Alpine Regions. LAND 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/land11071084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Understanding vegetation changes and their driving forces in global alpine areas is critical in the context of climate change. We aimed to reveal the changing trend in global alpine vegetation from 1981 to 2015 using the least squares regression method and Mann-Kendall (MK) test. The area-of-influence dominated by anthropogenic activity and natural factors was determined in an area with significant vegetation change by residual analysis; the primary driving force of vegetation change in the area-of-influence dominated by natural factors was identified using the partial correlation method. The results showed that (1) the vegetation in the global alpine area exhibited a browning trend from 1981 to 2015 on the annual scale; however, a greening trend was observed from May to July on the month scale. (2) The influence of natural factors was greater than that of anthropogenic activities, and the positive impact of natural factors was greater than the negative impact. (3) Among the factors that were often considered as the main natural factors, the contribution of albedo to significant changes in vegetation were greater than that of temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, and sunshine duration. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of vegetation and sustainable development in alpine regions.
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Alvarez MA, Barros AA, Vázquez DP, Bonjour LDJ, Lembrechts JJ, Wedegärtner REM, Aschero V. Hiking and livestock favor non-native plants in the high Andes. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02851-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Sanchez-Cid C, Keuschnig C, Torzewski K, Stachnik Ł, Kępski D, Luks B, Nawrot A, Niedzielski P, Vogel TM, Larose C. Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Shape the Snow Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistome. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:918622. [PMID: 35783390 PMCID: PMC9245712 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.918622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Winter tourism can generate environmental pollution and affect microbial ecology in mountain ecosystems. This could stimulate the development of antibiotic resistance in snow and its dissemination through the atmosphere and through snow melting. Despite these potential impacts, the effect of winter tourism on the snow antibiotic resistome remains to be elucidated. In this study, snow samples subjected to different levels of anthropogenic activities and surrounding forest were obtained from the Sudety Mountains in Poland to evaluate the impact of winter tourism on snow bacteria using a metagenomic approach. Bacterial community composition was determined by the sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and the composition of the antibiotic resistome was explored by metagenomic sequencing. Whereas environmental factors were the main drivers of bacterial community and antibiotic resistome composition in snow, winter tourism affected resistome composition in sites with similar environmental conditions. Several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) showed a higher abundance in sites subjected to human activities. This is the first study to show that anthropogenic activities may influence the antibiotic resistome in alpine snow. Our results highlight the need to survey antibiotic resistance development in anthropogenically polluted sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepcion Sanchez-Cid
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
- Promega France, Charbonnières-les-Bains, France
- *Correspondence: Concepcion Sanchez-Cid,
| | - Christoph Keuschnig
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Karol Torzewski
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Łukasz Stachnik
- Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Daniel Kępski
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Luks
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Nawrot
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- forScience Foundation, Toruń, Poland
| | - Przemysław Niedzielski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Timothy M. Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
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10
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Haider S, Lembrechts JJ, McDougall K, Pauchard A, Alexander JM, Barros A, Cavieres LA, Rashid I, Rew LJ, Aleksanyan A, Arévalo JR, Aschero V, Chisholm C, Clark VR, Clavel J, Daehler C, Dar PA, Dietz H, Dimarco RD, Edwards P, Essl F, Fuentes‐Lillo E, Guisan A, Gwate O, Hargreaves AL, Jakobs G, Jiménez A, Kardol P, Kueffer C, Larson C, Lenoir J, Lenzner B, Padrón Mederos MA, Mihoc M, Milbau A, Morgan JW, Müllerová J, Naylor BJ, Nijs I, Nuñez MA, Otto R, Preuk N, Ratier Backes A, Reshi ZA, Rumpf SB, Sandoya V, Schroder M, Speziale KL, Urbach D, Valencia G, Vandvik V, Vitková M, Vorstenbosch T, Walker TWN, Walsh N, Wright G, Zong S, Seipel T. Think globally, measure locally: The MIREN standardized protocol for monitoring plant species distributions along elevation gradients. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8590. [PMID: 35222963 PMCID: PMC8844121 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change and other global change drivers threaten plant diversity in mountains worldwide. A widely documented response to such environmental modifications is for plant species to change their elevational ranges. Range shifts are often idiosyncratic and difficult to generalize, partly due to variation in sampling methods. There is thus a need for a standardized monitoring strategy that can be applied across mountain regions to assess distribution changes and community turnover of native and non‐native plant species over space and time. Here, we present a conceptually intuitive and standardized protocol developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) to systematically quantify global patterns of native and non‐native species distributions along elevation gradients and shifts arising from interactive effects of climate change and human disturbance. Usually repeated every five years, surveys consist of 20 sample sites located at equal elevation increments along three replicate roads per sampling region. At each site, three plots extend from the side of a mountain road into surrounding natural vegetation. The protocol has been successfully used in 18 regions worldwide from 2007 to present. Analyses of one point in time already generated some salient results, and revealed region‐specific elevational patterns of native plant species richness, but a globally consistent elevational decline in non‐native species richness. Non‐native plants were also more abundant directly adjacent to road edges, suggesting that disturbed roadsides serve as a vector for invasions into mountains. From the upcoming analyses of time series, even more exciting results can be expected, especially about range shifts. Implementing the protocol in more mountain regions globally would help to generate a more complete picture of how global change alters species distributions. This would inform conservation policy in mountain ecosystems, where some conservation policies remain poorly implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Haider
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Jonas J. Lembrechts
- Research group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO) University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Keith McDougall
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Queanbeyan New South Wales Australia
| | - Aníbal Pauchard
- Laboratorio de Invasiones Biologicas (LIB) Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
| | | | - Agustina Barros
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología y Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA) Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT) CONICET Mendoza Mendoza Argentina
| | - Lohengrin A. Cavieres
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
- Departamento de Botánica Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Irfan Rashid
- Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
| | - Lisa J. Rew
- Department of Land Resource and Environmental Sciences Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
| | - Alla Aleksanyan
- Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecophysiology Institute of Botany aft. A.L. Takhtajyan NAS RA Yerevan Armenia
- Chair of Biology and Biotechnologies Armenian National Agrarian University Yerevan Armenia
| | - José R. Arévalo
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology University of La Laguna La Laguna Spain
| | - Valeria Aschero
- Instituto Argentino de Nivología y Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales (IANIGLA) Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT) CONICET Mendoza Mendoza Argentina
| | | | - V. Ralph Clark
- Afromontane Research Unit & Department of Geography University of the Free State: Qwaqwa Campus Phuthaditjhaba South Africa
| | - Jan Clavel
- Research group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO) University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Curtis Daehler
- School of Life Sciences University of Hawai'i at Manoa Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | | | - Hansjörg Dietz
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Romina D. Dimarco
- Grupo de Ecología de Poblaciones de Insectos IFAB (INTA‐CONICET) Bariloche Argentina
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas USA
| | - Peter Edwards
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Franz Essl
- Bioinvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Eduardo Fuentes‐Lillo
- Research group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO) University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
- Laboratorio de Invasiones Biologicas (LIB) Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
- School of Education and Social Sciences Adventist University of Chile Chillán Chile
| | - Antoine Guisan
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics & Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Onalenna Gwate
- Afromontane Research Unit & Department of Geography University of the Free State: Qwaqwa Campus Phuthaditjhaba South Africa
| | | | - Gabi Jakobs
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
| | - Alejandra Jiménez
- Laboratorio de Invasiones Biologicas (LIB) Facultad de Ciencias Forestales Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
| | - Paul Kardol
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - Christoph Kueffer
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
- Department of Botany and Zoology Centre for Invasion Biology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Christian Larson
- Department of Land Resource and Environmental Sciences Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
| | - Jonathan Lenoir
- UR “Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés” (EDYSAN UMR 7058 CNRS) Université de Picardie Jules Verne Amiens France
| | - Bernd Lenzner
- Bioinvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research University of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | | | - Maritza Mihoc
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
- Departamento de Botánica Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Ann Milbau
- Research Institute for Nature and Forest – INBO Brussels Belgium
| | - John W. Morgan
- Department of Ecology Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria Australia
| | - Jana Müllerová
- Department of GIS and Remote Sensing Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | | | - Ivan Nijs
- Research group Plants and Ecosystems (PLECO) University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Martin A. Nuñez
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas USA
- Grupo Ecología de Invasiones Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente CONICET ‐ Universidad Nacional del Comahue Bariloche Argentina
| | - Rüdiger Otto
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology University of La Laguna La Laguna Spain
| | - Niels Preuk
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
| | - Amanda Ratier Backes
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden Martin Luther University Halle‐Wittenberg Halle Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle‐Jena‐Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Zafar A. Reshi
- Department of Botany University of Kashmir Srinagar India
| | - Sabine B. Rumpf
- Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Lausanne Lausanne Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Sciences University of Basel Basel Switzerland
| | - Verónica Sandoya
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Yachay Tech University Urcuquí Ecuador
- CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès Spain
- Unitat d'Ecologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès Spain
| | - Mellesa Schroder
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Jindabyne New South Wales Australia
| | | | - Davnah Urbach
- Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment Institute of Plant Sciences University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Graciela Valencia
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB) Santiago Chile
- Departamento de Botánica Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile
| | - Vigdis Vandvik
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Bergen Bergen Norway
| | - Michaela Vitková
- Department of Invasion Ecology Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Tom Vorstenbosch
- Bioinvasions, Global Change, Macroecology Group Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research University of Vienna Vienna Austria
- Institute of Biology Leiden Leiden University Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Tom W. N. Walker
- Institute of Integrative Biology ETH Zürich Zürich Switzerland
- Institute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Switzerland
| | - Neville Walsh
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Genevieve Wright
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment NSW Government, Biodiversity and Conservation Queanbeyan New South Wales Australia
| | - Shengwei Zong
- Key Laboratory of Geographical Processes and Ecological Security in Changbai Mountains Ministry of Education School of Geographical Sciences Northeast Normal University Changchun China
| | - Tim Seipel
- Department of Land Resource and Environmental Sciences Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
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Fuentes-Lillo E, Lembrechts JJ, Cavieres LA, Jiménez A, Haider S, Barros A, Pauchard A. Anthropogenic factors overrule local abiotic variables in determining non-native plant invasions in mountains. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02602-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Erfanian MB, Alatalo JM, Ejtehadi H. Severe vegetation degradation associated with different disturbance types in a poorly managed urban recreation destination in Iran. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19695. [PMID: 34608243 PMCID: PMC8490473 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99261-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recreational activities worldwide have major impacts on the environment. This study examined the impact of different kinds of recreational activities on plant communities in a highly visited park in Mashhad, Iran. Vegetation in the park was sampled along 41 random 10-m transects with different human disturbances (trails, dirt roads, campsites) and undisturbed communities. Life form spectrum, species composition, species and phylogenetic diversity were determined for all communities. Disturbance increased the frequency of therophytes, but decreased the frequency of chamaephytes and percentage vegetated area. Recreational-mediated disturbance had variable impact on species composition, but decreased species and phylogenetic diversity compared with undisturbed areas. Roads and campsites caused the greatest damage, while trails had the smallest negative impact on vegetation. This study showed that damage to (semi-)natural park vegetation differs with recreation activity. This finding can help prioritise management activities to minimise negative impacts of recreation activities on local vegetation. The current visitor load to the urban park studied here appears too high to be sustainable over time, so better monitoring and restrictions on visitor numbers may be needed to minimise the negative impacts on park vegetation. The camping impacts can be managed by creating clusters of designated campsites to spatially concentrate the impact area. Low-impact practices should be communicated to visitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Bagher Erfanian
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab., Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Juha M Alatalo
- Environmental Science Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hamid Ejtehadi
- Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab., Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, PO BOX 9177948974, Mashhad, Iran.
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Salesa D, Cerdà A. Soil erosion on mountain trails as a consequence of recreational activities. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 271:110990. [PMID: 32778281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This article reviews the scientific literature on trail erosion and the magnitude of the erosive processes that occur on mountain trails due to recreational activities, mainly due to hiking. This work is necessary as a result of the increase in hiking and biking in forest, scrubland and grasslands, and the soil and vegetation degradation induced by these activities. We analysed results that have been compiled in the scientific literature, as well as other issues such as the geographical and temporal distribution of the research, the methods applied, the journals where the research was published, the types and quantity of uses of the pathways and the measures undertaken for damage mitigation. This paper highlights that there is a need for harmonization of methods. The results show that soil erosion rates are highly variable, high, and non-sustainable. Trail erosion research is growing at a rate of 3 papers per year and is published in a small group of scientific journals. Six journals published 47% of the papers on trail erosion, which show a high concentration in environmental journals. There are few papers published in the soil science and geomorphology disciplines, although the research topic and the science background are in these two disciplines. Reported world soil losses from trails ranged from 6.1 Mg ha-1 y-1 to 2090 Mg ha-1 y-1, all of which are not sustainable. Trail erosion has mainly been investigated in the USA and is a new topic in other regions of the world. There is a need to implement mitigation measures to avoid land degradation, and this should be researched in the near future as right now most of the research describes and quantifies the problem but does not provide solutions: mitigation, rehabilitation or restoration. From a pure scientific approach, we claim that there is a need to research the connectivity of flows and the role of the trails on runoff generation and then sediment yield at pedon, slope and watershed scales. There is a need to research the mechanisms of the soil erosion process in trails: trampling effect, wheel impact, factors and seasonal and temporal changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Salesa
- Soil Erosion and Degradation Research Group. Department of Geography, Valencia University, Blasco Ibàñez, 28, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - A Cerdà
- Soil Erosion and Degradation Research Group. Department of Geography, Valencia University, Blasco Ibàñez, 28, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
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