Trampling Effects on Vegetation of the Trail Corridors of North Rocky Mountain Forests

Dale, D.; Weaver, T.

doi:10.2307/2402226

Cited by 126 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Much of the general literature has also assumed only negative effects and the experimental design has been developed to quantify negative impact. Although some studies noted previously (Dale and Weaver 1974;Bright 1986;Benninger-Truax et al 1992;Ferguson et al 2010) indicated a beneficial effect on some species, demonstration of a beneficial effect on orchids remains unique to Bratton (1985). Here that phenomenon is extended across Canada and to three native and one introduced species.…”

Section: (3) Pairwise and Independent Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…However, it is widely known that there is a disturbance gradient and zonation of plants extending from the bare portion of a trail into the surrounding woodland and it is also known that the trail flora includes characteristic woodland species that increase in abundance near the trail (Dale and Weaver 1974;Bright 1986;Benninger-Truax et al 1992;Ferguson et al 2010). Trails may also increase native biodiversity (Roovers et al 2005) and act as dispersal corridors for some species (Benninger-Truax et al 1992).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Some Wild Canadian Orchids Benefit from Woodland Hiking Trails - and the Implications

Catling¹,

Kostiuk²

2011

Can Field Nat

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To clarify the impact that trails have on orchids we compared the occurrence of orchids on the lightly trampled edges of bare trails, with the occurrence of orchids in the surrounding woodland and noted the degree of disturbance. A two-way mixed analysis of variance, using six trails from across Canada, indicated that location by distance strata interaction was lacking. Orchid densities were consistently higher within a few meters of the bare portion of a trail than further away. The width of the disturbance gradient for two well-used trails in parks in Bruce County, Ontario, was determined with regression to be within 1 m from the edge of the bare portion of the trail. Calypso bulbosa var. americana on trails in in Alberta, Epipactis helleborine and Goodyera oblongifolia on trails in Ontario, Goodyera repens on trails in Northwest Territories and all native orchids (cumulatively) on trails on Flowerpot Island, Ontario demonstrated consistent and significant increased abundance within the trail disturbance gradients in comparison to their occurrence in the surrounding forest. More flowering plants of Goodyera oblongifolia and mature capsules of Epipactis helleborine occurred in the trail disturbance gradient than beyond suggesting a beneficial impact on fecundity. The disturbance gradient effect likely includes light trampling which reduces competition, compacts soil, and exposes mineral soil. The effect also includes increased light and microclimate differences near to the path. Landscape managers should recognize that in some situations orchids may benefit greatly from trails and that trails may be better considered as a benefit than as a problem.

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Section: (3) Pairwise and Independent Comparisonsmentioning

confidence: 67%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Some Wild Canadian Orchids Benefit from Woodland Hiking Trails - and the Implications

Catling¹,

Kostiuk²

2011

Can Field Nat

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“…Finally, several studies have identified slope gradient as a dominant factor controlling path morphology and susceptibility to erosion (e.g. Dale and Weaver, 1974;Bayfield, 1979;Coleman, 1981;Jubenville and O'Sullivan, 1987;Cole, 2004). Evaluation of the terrain-unit approach on footpaths aligned downslope or obliquely across-slope is necessary to determine whether the approach is valid for footpaths developed on moderate and steep gradients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A critical control on terrain sensitivity in general, and footpath erosion in particular, is the composition and thus the strength of the vegetation mat (e.g. Dale and Weaver, 1974;Bryan, 1977;Bayfield, 1979Bayfield, , 1985Lance et al, 1989;Haynes et al, 1998;Legg, 2000;Cole and Monz, 2002;Morrocco, 2005). The shearing resistance of the vegetation mat and underlying root zone was measured using a specially constructed device, informally termed a shear rake (Morrocco, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A particular focus of interest has been the effect of trampling erosion on vegetation and soils, particularly where tramping is concentrated along footpaths or trails (e.g. Bayfield, 1971;Dale and Weaver, 1974;Bryan, 1977;Coleman, 1981;Garland, 1987;Jubenville and O'Sullivan, 1987;Stewart and Cameron, 1992; see also reviews by Liddle (1975), Leung and Marion (1996) and Cole (2004)). Within the British Isles, the past three decades have witnessed growing concern about the impact of increasing numbers of hillwalkers on the fragile highplateau environments of the Scottish Highlands and other mountain areas (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Footpath morphology and terrain sensitivity on high plateaux: the Mamore Mountains, Western Highlands of Scotland

Morrocco

Ballantyne

2007

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Variations in the morphology of a high-level footpath are characterized using a new approach that relates footpath morphology to six terrain units defined jointly by two contrasting plant communities (U7 grass-heath communities dominated by Nardus stricta and Carex bigelowii, and U10 moss-heath communities dominated by Carex bigelowii and Racomitrium lanuginosum) and by the contrasting textural characteristics of underlying mineral soils developed on schist, granite and quartzite. All six terrain units are characterized by distinct footpath morphologies. The most critical factor affecting footpath morphology is the shear strength of the vegetation mat and underlying root zone. Vegetation mat shear strength was measured using a specially constructed shear rake. On all three lithologies, median shear strengths for U7 communities significantly exceed those for U10 communities, so that pathways on the former are significantly narrower and deeper than those developed on the latter. Adjacent zones of damaged or modified vegetation cover are also wider on U10 communities. The role of mineral soil (regolith) texture and thus underlying lithology in controlling footpath morphology is more complex. For soils with abundant fines, granite soils have lower shearing resistance than schist soils, and are associated with wider footpaths. Footpaths are also wide on clast-supported quartzite regolith, which has high shearing resistance: pathways are trapezoidal in cross-section in areas of U7 vegetation cover, but footpaths are very broad and diffuse in areas of U10 cover. Pathway depths are limited by increasing shear and compressive strength with depth. Implications of these findings for further research and management strategies are discussed.

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The Impact of Commercial Horse Riding on Sub-Alpine Environments at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

Whinam

Comfort

1996

Journal of Environmental Management

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Trampling Effects on Vegetation of the Trail Corridors of North Rocky Mountain Forests

Cited by 126 publications

References 7 publications

Some Wild Canadian Orchids Benefit from Woodland Hiking Trails - and the Implications

Some Wild Canadian Orchids Benefit from Woodland Hiking Trails - and the Implications

Footpath morphology and terrain sensitivity on high plateaux: the Mamore Mountains, Western Highlands of Scotland

The Impact of Commercial Horse Riding on Sub-Alpine Environments at Cradle Mountain, Tasmania, Australia

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