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dc.contributor.authorBarros, Agustina
dc.contributor.authorGonnet, Jorge
dc.contributor.authorPickering, Catherine
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-03T13:20:55Z
dc.date.available2017-05-03T13:20:55Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.date.modified2014-06-11T03:12:38Z
dc.identifier.issn0301-4797
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.04.030
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10072/58580
dc.description.abstractThere is limited recreation ecology research in South America, especially studies looking at informal trails. Impacts of informal trails formed by hikers and pack animals on vegetation and soils were assessed for the highest protected area in the Southern Hemisphere, Aconcagua Provincial Park. The number of braided trails, their width and depth were surveyed at 30 sites along the main access route to Mt Aconcagua (6962 m a.s.l.). Species composition, richness and cover were also measured on control and trail transects. A total of 3.3 ha of alpine meadows and 13.4 ha of alpine steppe were disturbed by trails. Trails through meadows resulted in greater soil loss, more exposed soil and rock and less vegetation than trails through steppe vegetation. Trampling also affected the composition of meadow and steppe vegetation with declines in sedges, herbs, grasses and shrubs on trails. These results highlight how visitor use can result in substantial cumulative damage to areas of high conservation value in the Andes. With unregulated use of trails and increasing visitation, park agencies need to limit the further spread of informal trails and improve the conservation of plant communities in Aconcagua Provincial Park and other popular parks in the region.
dc.description.peerreviewedYes
dc.description.publicationstatusYes
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofstudentpublicationN
dc.relation.ispartofpagefrom50
dc.relation.ispartofpageto60
dc.relation.ispartofjournalJournal of Environmental Management
dc.relation.ispartofvolume127
dc.rights.retentionY
dc.subject.fieldofresearchNatural resource management
dc.subject.fieldofresearchTerrestrial ecology
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode410406
dc.subject.fieldofresearchcode310308
dc.titleImpacts of informal trails on vegetation and soils in the highest protected area in the Southern Hemisphere
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.descriptionC1 - Articles
dc.type.codeC - Journal Articles
gro.facultyGriffith Sciences, Griffith School of Environment
gro.date.issued2013
gro.hasfulltextNo Full Text
gro.griffith.authorPickering, Catherine M.


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