Integrated analysis of the trees and associated under-canopy species in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Bisht, Vinod K.; Kuniyal, Chandra P.; Nautiyal, B. P.; Prasad, P.

doi:10.1007/s11629-013-2785-3

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 19 publications

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“…In addition to reducing plant size, trampling can also reduce reproductive output, interrupt succession, and lower species richness [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Disturbance can also decrease total plant cover, but the severity of effects differs between ecosystems [14,16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance

Chardon,

Stone,

Hilbert

et al. 2023

Plants

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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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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance

Chardon,

Stone,

Hilbert

et al. 2023

Plants

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show abstract

Fatty acids analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial and biological activity of essential oil of Skimmia laureola Leaves

Bisht¹,

Bhandari²,

Kandari

et al. 2023

Vegetos

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Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive Than Reproduction to Disturbance

Chardon,

Stone,

Hilbert

et al. 2023

Preprint

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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, 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’aḵ’t’aḵ’múy̓in tl’a In̓inyáx̱a7n 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.

show abstract

Integrated analysis of the trees and associated under-canopy species in a subalpine forest of western Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Cited by 4 publications

References 19 publications

Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance

Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance

Fatty acids analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial and biological activity of essential oil of Skimmia laureola Leaves

Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive Than Reproduction to Disturbance

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