The distribution of climbing chalk on climbed boulders and its impact on rock‐dwelling fern and moss species

Hepenstrick, Daniel; Bergamini, Ariel; Holderegger, Rolf

doi:10.1002/ece3.6773

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…The use of brushes and chalk would probably enhance the rock abrasion as well. Preliminary work has found chalk to influence algae positively and moss and lichens negatively on cliffs [31,32].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Physical Damage of Climbing Activity on Sandstone Lichen Cover

2021

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Climbing activities affect cliff site species. With cliff sites harbouring unique species communities, the rise in popularity of outdoor climbing activities is a major threat. In this study, we assessed a previously unclimbed boulder before, during and after 500 climbing ascents. We observed an overall reduction in lichen cover by 4.2–9.5%, located around the footholds and combined foot- and handhold but not the handhold. We found the reduction in lichen cover to be strongest at the very start of the climbing treatment and to lessen over time. Therefore, management should focus on directing climbing activities to selected sites, while protecting sites with high conservation value where climbing is prohibited entirely.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Physical Damage of Climbing Activity on Sandstone Lichen Cover

2021

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“…Only one study has been published on the effect of chalk dust on vegetation. Hepenstrick et al (2020) found that elevated climbing chalk concentrations can occur even if no chalk traces are visible and that climbing chalk can have negative impacts on ferns and mosses. More evidence of the effects of chalk on cliff vegetation will be important in evaluating the effects of climbing and in drafting climbing management plans.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of rock climbing on cliff vegetation: A methods review and best practices

Boggess

Harrison

Bishop

2021

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions Cliff vegetation is diverse, understudied, and threatened by increased human disturbance. The growing popularity of rock climbing heightens the need for science‐based management to balance recreational use and conservation of cliff ecosystems. What has existing research revealed about the impact of climbing on vegetation? Are the conclusions consistent across the literature? If not, how can research methods be streamlined and standardized to produce more consistent results and reliable conclusions? Methods We present a review of vegetation‐focused climbing‐impact studies written in English. We compare study design and climbing‐specific considerations in 19 studies and report the impact of rock climbing on richness and abundance of lichens, bryophytes, and vascular plants. We then propose a set of best practices to guide design of future studies. Results Our work reveals that existing studies have employed widely differing methods for data collection and analysis. The effects of climbing on vegetation also varied among studies. Standardizing methods, such as pairing climbed and unclimbed transects or including a metric for climbing use, will generate more reliable and useful conclusions about the effect of climbing on vegetation. Conclusions Climbing will increasingly disturb cliff ecosystems. Our proposed best practices for climbing study methods are one way to produce more accurate information to inform climbing management plans, ultimately enhancing cliff conservation.

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“…These detrimental effects of rock-climbing mainly arise from direct trampling, the erosion of cliffs due to repetitive climbers' ascents, or plant removal by trampling, pulling or uprooting by climbers (Holzschuh 2016;Harrison et al, 2022). Moreover, as recently shown, the use of climbing chalk (magnesium carbonate) can also affect the germination and survival of rupicolous plants as it triggers changes in soil nutrients and pH (Hepenstrick et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origin of the impact of rock climbing on cliff ecosystems: A guide to evidence-based conservation management to regulate climbing

Morales-Armijo,

Sobrevilla-Covarrubias,

Estrada-Castillón

et al. 2024

Preprint

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1. Cliff ecosystems provide refuge to 35-66% of the world’s endemic plants. However, they face growing threats from climbing. Evidence suggests that untouched cliffs harbor approximately twice the plant richness compared to climbed cliffs, with increasing impact as climbing intensity increases. Unfortunately, the origin and extent of the climbing impact has not been assessed so far. 2. We recorded cliff vascular plants and lichens at the protected natural area of El Potrero Chico (Mexico) before and after the establishment of new climbing routes. Subsequently, we re-recorded the routes at various time-points after openings while controlling the number of ascents. Additionally, we examined whether original cliff vegetation abundance influences the extent of climbing impact, and whether the surroundings of the new routes were also affected. 3. We found that the establishment of new climbing routes exerted the strongest negative effects on cliff plants, reducing species richness by 38%, while subsequent climbers’ ascents generated a minimal impact on richness. Worryingly, route opening affected not only species richness in the route itself, but also the surroundings of the climbing routes. Cliff plant abundance decreased by 60.6% within the bolted climbing routes, whereas it rapidly decreased by 42.3% in the surrounding area. However, this impact depended on the original vegetation abundance of the untouched cliffs. Lichen cover showed a gradual decrease, indicating that cliff-dwelling lichens are affected not only by the opening of the route but also by subsequent climbers’ ascents. 4. Synthesis and applications: Given the almost non-existent regulation of outdoor climbing activities in most countries, we urge the implementation of a conservation management protocol that defines clear strategies to regulate climbing activities and preserve pristine cliffs. On untouched cliffs with narrow endemic, rare, or threatened species, we propose banning the establishment of new climbing areas. On cliffs lacking protected or unique species, dynamic management actions should be implemented, setting a maximum number of climbing routes that can be established, and defining Limits of Acceptable Change as climbing intensity increases. The proposed conservation management should help to halt the loss of unique cliff biodiversity and safeguard pristine cliff ecosystems.

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The distribution of climbing chalk on climbed boulders and its impact on rock‐dwelling fern and moss species

Cited by 8 publications

References 37 publications

The Physical Damage of Climbing Activity on Sandstone Lichen Cover

The Physical Damage of Climbing Activity on Sandstone Lichen Cover

Impacts of rock climbing on cliff vegetation: A methods review and best practices

Origin of the impact of rock climbing on cliff ecosystems: A guide to evidence-based conservation management to regulate climbing

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