Do alpine hiking trails show
evidence of edge effects?
evidence of edge effects?
Introduction
Figure 3: Alberta's natural regions: the light purple represents the alpine ecozone
Background & Rationale:
The Rocky Mountain region is a minor component of the Albertan landscape, making up only 7.4% of our land base (ANHIC; Figure 3). The alpine subregion covers 31% of this area (or 2.3% of the province's land base). This zone includes both vegetated and non-vegetated areas above treeline, which means that the actual area that supports alpine tundra is even less than 2.3%. Despite its limited extent, however, Rocky Mountain region of Alberta contains a disproportionate number of provincially rare plant species (Gould 2007). In addition, a large proportion of the Alberta Rockies are is located in protected areas, primarily provincial and national parks. These protected areas are designed to provide recreational opportunities while promoting ecological conservation; as such, it is important to ensure that recreational activities do not compromise the ecological integrity of these protected systems. The need to increase our understanding of the impacts of recreation is particularly urgent in alpine regions for two reasons. First, as previously mentioned, tundra systems tend to be relatively sensitive to human impact. And second, the tundra is not as well studied or understood compared to many other terrestrial systems.
While previous studies have examined on-trail conditions, one question that has been poorly addressed in the literature is that of edge effects near alpine trails. In forested ecosystems, plant communities along trail edges (Figure 4) tend to be different from the undisturbed forest community due to changes in environmental conditions such as light availability and humidity (Dale & Weaver 1974). Because of the lack of vertical plant structure in tundra communities, we would not expect to see the same changes as are found in forested ecosystems. However, the tundra adjacent to established trails may show signs of impact due to low-intensity trampling caused by hikers wandering off the trail (i.e.: to take photos, examine plants or rocks, or to avoid degraded areas on the trail).
This question has management implications as well as scientific ones. If even low levels of trampling pressure are causing changes in the surrounding community, managers of protected areas especially may want to increase their efforts to keep visitors on the trail. if in fact there are no changes found in community composition, managers may choose to spend less effort in keeping visitors on the trail and focus their time and energy on other areas of management and public education.
The Rocky Mountain region is a minor component of the Albertan landscape, making up only 7.4% of our land base (ANHIC; Figure 3). The alpine subregion covers 31% of this area (or 2.3% of the province's land base). This zone includes both vegetated and non-vegetated areas above treeline, which means that the actual area that supports alpine tundra is even less than 2.3%. Despite its limited extent, however, Rocky Mountain region of Alberta contains a disproportionate number of provincially rare plant species (Gould 2007). In addition, a large proportion of the Alberta Rockies are is located in protected areas, primarily provincial and national parks. These protected areas are designed to provide recreational opportunities while promoting ecological conservation; as such, it is important to ensure that recreational activities do not compromise the ecological integrity of these protected systems. The need to increase our understanding of the impacts of recreation is particularly urgent in alpine regions for two reasons. First, as previously mentioned, tundra systems tend to be relatively sensitive to human impact. And second, the tundra is not as well studied or understood compared to many other terrestrial systems.
While previous studies have examined on-trail conditions, one question that has been poorly addressed in the literature is that of edge effects near alpine trails. In forested ecosystems, plant communities along trail edges (Figure 4) tend to be different from the undisturbed forest community due to changes in environmental conditions such as light availability and humidity (Dale & Weaver 1974). Because of the lack of vertical plant structure in tundra communities, we would not expect to see the same changes as are found in forested ecosystems. However, the tundra adjacent to established trails may show signs of impact due to low-intensity trampling caused by hikers wandering off the trail (i.e.: to take photos, examine plants or rocks, or to avoid degraded areas on the trail).
This question has management implications as well as scientific ones. If even low levels of trampling pressure are causing changes in the surrounding community, managers of protected areas especially may want to increase their efforts to keep visitors on the trail. if in fact there are no changes found in community composition, managers may choose to spend less effort in keeping visitors on the trail and focus their time and energy on other areas of management and public education.
Figure 4: A forest trail (left) will likely have a unique edge community. Does the same hold true for an alpine trail (right)?
Objectives:
The aim of this project is to assess whether vegetation near an existing alpine trail shows evidence of human impact, as compared to vegetation that is located at greater distances from the trail. I will be looking primarily at vascular species composition, but will also look for trends in non-vascular and abiotic cover types. I will also look for species-specific trends: either species that appear to be particularly sensitive to trampling or species which are more abundant in moderately trampled areas.
Expected results:
I would expect to see changes in species composition, non-vascular and abiotic cover composition and soil compaction levels at varying distances from the trail.
The aim of this project is to assess whether vegetation near an existing alpine trail shows evidence of human impact, as compared to vegetation that is located at greater distances from the trail. I will be looking primarily at vascular species composition, but will also look for trends in non-vascular and abiotic cover types. I will also look for species-specific trends: either species that appear to be particularly sensitive to trampling or species which are more abundant in moderately trampled areas.
Expected results:
I would expect to see changes in species composition, non-vascular and abiotic cover composition and soil compaction levels at varying distances from the trail.
