Vegetation changes at sub-xeric urban forest edges in Finland – the effects of edge aspect and trampling

Abstract

The relative strengths of the effects of forest edges and recreational use on understorey vegetation were studied at sub-xeric boreal urban forest edges in the greater Helsinki region, Finland. The study was performed at northern, eastern, southern and western edges, and vegetation sample plots were placed on, next to and away from paths with different trampling intensities 0-107 m from the forest edges. We found that human trampling altered vegetation more than the effects of forest edges. Vegetation changed dramatically on paths and the effects of path edges were seen in seemingly untrampled vegetation at least up to 4 m from the path edge. However, our results suggested that the effect of the edge may penetrate up to 50 m into forest interiors. Changes in vegetation composition indicated that the effects of the edge were stronger at eastern, southern and western than at northern edges.

Forest Edge Regrowth Typologies in Southern Sweden—Relationship to Environmental Characteristics and Implications for Management

“…However, Clarke and White ( 2008 ), Berg et al ( 2013 ), and Komonen et al ( 2013 ), for example, have carried out ROW studies in other parts of the world. Forest edge studies in the hemi-boreal zone have mainly focused on edge effects in relation to large clear-cuts (Marozas et al 2005 ) or in an urban context (e.g., Hamberg et al 2008 ; Hamberg et al 2010 ), but rarely over large and complex environmental gradients.…”

Recreation ecology research in East Asia's protected areas: Redefining impacts?

“…The majority of past research, especially in North America, has been directed to impact issues occurring within or adjacent to visitor use zones such as trails and camping areas in major protected and wilderness areas where recreationassociated disturbance is more evident (Cole 2009;Hammitt & Cole 1998;Monz et al 2010). In contrast, recreation ecology research in Europe has devoted substantial attention to vegetative responses to human trampling (Bayfield & Barrow 1985;Liddle 1997), wildlife-recreation conflicts (e.g., Braunisch et al 2011;Sterl et al 2008) and recreation pressure in urban-proximate natural areas (e.g., Hamberg et al 2010;Littlemore & Barker 2001).…”

“…For example, Cole (2009) and Monz et al (2010) illustrate how the body of literature generated in North America has informed protected area managers in controlling visitor impact problems. Dumont et al (2005), Kissling et al (2009) and Hamberg et al (2010) examined recreation-related ecological disturbance in densely populated Europe. However, the regional imbalance in the development of recreation ecology, as indicated by Leung and Lee (2003) and Buckley (2005), prompts the question of its relevance to other continents.…”