The effects of rock climbing on cliff‐face vegetation

Abstract

Question What are the effects of rock climbing on diversity, abundance and composition on cliff‐face vegetation along environmental and use gradients typical of modern climbing? Location New River Gorge National River, WV, US. Methods We compared species richness, abundance and composition of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens on 79 pre‐established rock climbs and 32 unclimbed ‘control’ sites across potential climb‐use intensity and cliff structure using linear models, residual analysis and NMDS ordination. Results Differences in species richness and abundance associated with potential climb‐use intensity and cliff structure were variable across taxonomic groups. Linear models indicated that cliff angle was the strongest explanatory variable of species richness and abundance for all three taxonomic groups. Once the effects of biophysical variables were modelled, analysis of the residuals indicated that potential climbing‐use intensity had a small but negative effect on species richness and abundance of vascular plants (range 3–6%), no effect on bryophytes (0%) and a substantial effect on lichens (range 10–12%). Similarly, NMDS ordination indicated that cliff angle, canopy height and aspect were the primary drivers of species composition. We observed no change in community composition due to climbing. Conclusions Other studies have observed significant impacts of climbing on vegetation at the base of cliffs. Here, we observe that potential climbing‐use intensity has some impact on species richness and abundance of vascular plants and more significant impacts on lichens, however cliff angle is a fundamental control on cliff vegetation. Because of the challenge in sampling steep and overhanging cliffs, we recommend that climbers be directly involved in the assessment, monitoring and management of cliff resources in order to ensure that the full range of biophysical conditions of cliff ecosystems are considered.

An innovative vegetation survey design in Mediterranean cliffs shows evidence of higher tolerance of specialized rock plants to rock climbing activity

“…Despite a lack of knowledge on rock climbing impacts, recent studies have reported disturbances to cliff vegetation from this increasingly popular activity (Clark & Hessl, ; Lorite et al., ). However, such disturbances to cliff plant communities remain to be assessed with specific consideration of the different rock adaptation strategies of species, together with the effects of microtopographic conditions of the rock surface.…”

“…microtopography) when examining the effects of rock climbing on vegetation (e.g. Clark & Hessl, ; Kuntz & Larson, 2006a); however, most studies have neglected this key aspect. Furthermore, it is also likely that species with differing life forms will respond differently to cliff structure and disturbance from rock climbing activity, with different levels of vulnerability.…”

Intensity-dependent impact of sport climbing on vascular plants and land snails on limestone cliffs

“…America (Nuzzo, 1995(Nuzzo, , 1996Kelly and Larson, 1997;Camp and Knight, 1998;Farris, 1998;81 McMillan and Larson, 2002; Clark and Hessl, 2015). Damage includes a reduction of 82 vegetation cover, alterations in the composition of the plant community and local extinction of 83 species sensitive to disturbance and of specialists adapted to these extreme habitats.…”

Environmental Factors Influencing Tree Species Regeneration in Different Forest Stands Growing on a Limestone Hill in Phrae Province, Northern Thailand

“…The dominant species had strong colonization capabilities under the extreme conditions prevailing at the HCS. The biological assemblages in such cliff environments have limited ecological stability; they readily lose community organization when perturbed by external agents (Clark and Hessl 2015). Tree species that regenerate on rocky cliffs, such as Ficus spp.…”