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dc.contributor.authorPickering, Catherine Marina
dc.contributor.authorBarros, Agustina
dc.date.accessioned2018-06-19T07:07:56Z
dc.date.available2018-06-19T07:07:56Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.identifier.issn0301-4797
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.07.003
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/101445
dc.description.abstractFunctional traits reflect plant responses to disturbance, including from visitor impacts. The impacts of mountain biking and hiking on functional composition were compared using a common experimental protocol in a subalpine grassland in the Australian Alps. The overlapping cover of all species was recorded two weeks after different intensities of hiking (200 and 500 passes) and mountain biking (none, 25, 75, 200 and 500 passes). Species' functional trait data were combined with their relative cover to calculate community trait weighted means for plant height, leaf area, percentage leaf dry matter content and Specific Leaf Area (SLA). Species such as Poa fawcettiae with larger leaves and SLA but lower dry weight content of leaves were more resistant to use, with differences between bikers and hikers only apparent at the highest levels of use tested. This differs from some vegetation communities in Europe where plants with smaller leaves were more resistant to hiking. More research using functional traits may account for differences in species responses to trampling. Managers of conservation areas used for hiking and biking need to minimise off trail use by both user groups.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom129
dc.relation.ispartofpageto136
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Environmental Management
dc.relation.ispartofvolume164
dc.subject.fieldofresearchEnvironmental assessment and monitoring
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode410402
dc.titleUsing functional traits to assess the resistance of subalpine grassland to trampling by mountain biking and hiking
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.facultyGriffith Sciences, Griffith School of Environment
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorPickering, Catherine M.


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