Damage and Recovery of Tundra Vegetation

Webber, P. J.; Ives, Jack D.

doi:10.1017/s0376892900005889

Cited by 45 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Horse trails were narrower than hiking trails probably because they are quite recently established and because of the habit of horse riding groups to travel in a single line. The impacts of skiing on trails seem to be mostly aesthetic as indicated in other studies (Bliss and Wein, 1972;Hernandez, 1973;Webber and Ives, 1978). Depending on the study, snow depth between 1 and 25 cm has been found to be sufficient to reduce trampling impacts (Hammitt and Cole, 1998;Felix et al, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Comparing the impacts of hiking, skiing and horse riding on trail and vegetation in different types of forest

Törn

Tolvanen²,

Norokorpi

et al. 2009

Journal of Environmental Management

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Comparing the impacts of hiking, skiing and horse riding on trail and vegetation in different types of forest

Törn

Tolvanen²,

Norokorpi

et al. 2009

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…Alternatively, it is possible that the disturbance associated with seismic exploration overcame the inherent inertia in these arctic plant communities (Starfield & Chapin 1996) and initiated succession towards new community types, which are more reflective of the present climate (e.g., Landhäusser & Wein 1993). This scenario is based on the idea that reference tundra plant communities are products of past climates, and thus may not be expected to return to the same condition following perturbation (Webber & Ives 1978). This hypothesis is supported by remarkably similar patterns of vegetation change (i.e., increased dominance by deciduous shrubs) in: (1) tundra plant communities subject to experimental warming (e.g., Chapin et al 1995; Bret‐Harte et al 2001; Walker et al 2006); (2) long‐term (40+ years) surveys of “undisturbed” tundra (Sturm et al 2001); and (3) other long‐term post‐disturbance studies (Racine et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Directional change in upland tundra plant communities 20‐30 years after seismic exploration in the Canadian low‐arctic

Kemper

Macdonald

2009

J Vegetation Science

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Question: What is the disturbance response of low‐arctic plant communities two to three decades after seismic exploration. Location: Mackenzie River Delta, low‐arctic, northwestern Canada. Methods: Plant communities in two upland tundra vegetation types were compared between winter seismic lines, created between 1970 and 1986, and adjacent “reference” tundra. Also, we used aerial surveys to quantify the total area impacted by visible linear features. Results: Vascular plant cover was significantly higher, and lichen cover significantly lower, on seismic lines than in reference tundra. The increase in vascular plant cover was attributable to deciduous shrubs and graminoids. There were significant differences in plant community composition between seismic lines and reference tundra but no differences in species diversity or richness. Betula glandulosa and Arctagrostis latifolia were significant indicator species for seismic lines, while Saussurea angustifolia was a significant indicator for reference tundra. Based on the aerial surveys, these effects apply to at least 90% of seismic lines from two‐dimensional programs in these habitat types during the 1970s. Conclusions: Vegetation composition and structure on 20‐30‐year‐old seismic lines differs from reference upland tundra despite no persistent differences in organic layer depth or depth to permafrost. We propose that this reflects: (1) successional redevelopment following changes in soil conditions and nutrient availability arising from the disturbance, and/or (2) disturbance‐initiated succession towards a community reflecting current climatic conditions.

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“…In permafrost disturbance nutrient regime (Chapin and Shaver 1981). When surface disruption is severe enough, the effects are irreversible (Webber and Ives 1978;Lawson 1986). If low impact compression occurs and vegetation is left more or less intact, vehicle passage often produces "greenbelts" by compressing standing dead vegetation (Rickard and Brown 1974;Abele et al 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Winter-trail impacts have been thought to be largely aesthetic with no long-term effects (Bliss and Wein 1972;Hernandez 1973;Webber and Ives 1978). Although numerous studies published on winter trails reported initial (1-to 2-year) impacts, few data are available on the longer term effects of trails.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of arctic tundra plant communities to winter vehicle disturbance

Emers¹,

Jorgenson²,

Raynolds³

1995

Can. J. Bot.

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Effects of 1984 and winter seismic exploration on arctic tundra were evaluated at 104 sites on the coastal plain of northeastern Alaska in 1991. Plant cover increased between initial years and 1991 at sites with low to moderate initial disturbance. All disturbed sites had species whose cover values remained lower than controls, especially nonvascular plants and evergreen shrubs. Graminoids were less affected by disturbance. At high initial levels of disturbance, impacts included (i) surface compression at moist sites, with replacement of shrubs and mosses by hydrophytic sedges and (ii) persistence of bare patches in drier sites and replacement of prostrate shrubs with grasses. Although recolonizing species were generally common in controls, forbs and graminoids not present in adjacent areas were recolonizing some highly disturbed sites. Active layers were deeper at 55% of sites but shallower at 6 highly disturbed sites, where dead sedge leaves insulated permafrost. Plant biomass and nutrient concentrations were initially higher on disturbed plots, but by 199 1 differences only persisted at the most disturbed mesic plot. Previous studies of winter disturbance had predicted short-term and mainly aesthetic impacts. We found impacts to the active layer and plant communities persisting eight growing seasons after disturbance.Resume : En 1991, les auteurs ont Cvalut les effets des explorations sCismologiques des hivers 1984 et 1985 sur la toundra arctique, auprks de 104 sites de la plaine cbtikre du nord-est de 1'Alaska. La couverture vCgCtale a augment6 entre les annCes initiales et 1991, aux sites avec des perturbations faibles a modCrCes. Tous les sites perturbts montrent des espkces dont les valeurs de couverture demeurent plus faibles que celles des t h o i n s , surtout pour les plantes invasculaires et les arbustes a feuilles persistentes. Les espkces gramino'ides sont moins affectCes par les perturbations. Aux niveau les plus importants de perturbation, les impacts incluent (i) compression de la surface des sites humides, avec remplacement des arbustes et des mousses par des joncs et (ii) persistence de plages nues sur les sites les plus secs, et remplacement des arbustes prostrCs par des herbes graminiformes. Bien que les espkces recolonisant les sites sont gCnCralement dominantes, des herbes graminoides et non-graminoides absentes des surfaces environnantes recolonisent certains sites fortement perturbCs. Les couches actives sont plus profondes sur 55% des sites, mais moins profondes sur 6 sites fortement perturb&, 18 oh les feuilles d'herbes graminoides isolent le permafrost. La biomasse vCgCtale et les teneurs en nutriments sont plus ClevCes au dCbut sur les sites perturbis, mais en 1991 les diffkrences ne persistent que sur les sites mCsiques les plus fortement perturbCs. Les Ctudes antCcCdentes sur les perturbations hivernales avaient prCdit des impacts 8 court terme et surtout de nature esthktique. Les auteurs constatent que les impacts persistent toujours aprks huit saisons de croissance sur la couche ...

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Damage and Recovery of Tundra Vegetation

Cited by 45 publications

References 34 publications

Comparing the impacts of hiking, skiing and horse riding on trail and vegetation in different types of forest

Comparing the impacts of hiking, skiing and horse riding on trail and vegetation in different types of forest

Directional change in upland tundra plant communities 20‐30 years after seismic exploration in the Canadian low‐arctic

Response of arctic tundra plant communities to winter vehicle disturbance

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