thumbnail

Vegetation alteration along trails in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Biological Conservation
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(89)90119-5

Links

Abstract

Most studies in the USA of vegetation alteration and human impact along trails have been located in large western wilderness areas. The objective of this study was to determine vegetation changes occurring along trails in an eastern ecosystem supporting second-growth deciduous forest. The location of this study was Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, which has a long history of trail use by humans. Located in different sections of the park, ten trails were chosen as study areas. In each, transects were established to measure ground flora in trailside, transition, and undisturbed areas perpendicular to the trail. Field data were collected on frequency, life-form, and percent cover for ground flora of 25 cm or less in height. Cover and species diversity increased toward the trail in eight out often cases. Competition for light and resistance to trampling were thought to influence the occurrence of plants along the transect. Plants found along the trail border were represented by low growthforms, early blooming, or graminoid characteristics, and hemicryptophyte, therophyte, or chamaephyte life-forms. Plants found in the undisturbed zone were represented by scattered cover and frequency, woody growth forms or delicate herbaceous forms, and phanerophyte or geophyte life-forms.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Vegetation alteration along trails in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Series title Biological Conservation
DOI 10.1016/0006-3207(89)90119-5
Volume 48
Issue 3
Year Published 1989
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Description 17 p.
First page 211
Last page 227
Country United States
State Virginia
Other Geospatial Shenandoah National Park
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details