Abstract
The effects of operating a 4-wheel drive truck in a 9-ha area of the Mojave Desert were evaluated. A truck was driven over the same 0.9-km track 21 times between November 1973 and May 1974. The vehicle was also driven randomly around the area (1.3 to 3.4 km) 17 times between December 1973 and May 1974.
Spring densities of annual plants in ruts of the regular track (8/m2) were less than those in control areas (46–112/m2), but densities in randomly driven plots (39/m2) did not differ significantly from controls. Severity of damage to shrubs was directly related to intensity of driving in the area. About 58% of shrubs growing in the regular track sustained estimated damage ranging from 81 to 100%. In randomly driven areas only 6% of shrubs were damaged to this extent, while about 61 % sustained damage from 0 to 20%.Numbers and kinds of rodents in control and driven areas were similar before and after the experiment. More young rodents were trapped in the experimental plot than in the control area during July 1974, and this may have been promoted by basal sprouting of new growth by damaged shrubs. Estimates of numbers of side-blotched lizards indicated similar densities before, during, and after the experiment. Counts of whiptail lizards in control and experimental areas were the same after the experiment, but counts of gridiron-tailed lizards were much lower in the driven area.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman, T.L., A.T. Vollmer, F.B. Turner, and B.G. Maza, 1975, Perennial plant populations,in F.B. Turner, ed., Rock Valley validation site report: US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 75-2. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah, p. 24–30.
Bamberg, S.A., A. T. Vollmer, G.E. Kleinkopf, and T.L. Ackerman, 1976, A comparison of seasonal primary production of Mojave Desert shrubs during wet and dry years: Amer. Midl. Natur., v. 95, p. 398–405.
Beatley, J.C., 1969, Dependence of desert rodents on winter annuals and precipitation: Ecology, v. 50, p. 721–724.
—, 1974, Effects of rainfall and temperature on the distribution and behavior ofLarrea tridentata (creosote-bush) in the Mojave Desert of Nevada: Ecology, v. 55, p. 245–261.
Berry, K., ed., 1973, Preliminary studies on the effects of off road vehicles on the northwestern Mojave Desert: a collection of papers. Ridgecrest, California. 100 p.
Bóo, R.M., and R.D. Pettit, 1975, Carbohydrate reserves in roots of sand skin oak in west Texas: J. Range Manage., v.28 p.469–472.
Busack, S.D., and R.B. Bury, 1974, Some effects of off-road vehicles and sheep grazing on lizard populations in the Mojave Desert: Biol. Conserv., v. 6, p.179–183.
Carter, L.J., 1974, Off-road vehicles: a compromise plan for the California desert: Science, v.183, p.396–398.
Chew, R.M., 1975, Effect of density on the population dynamics ofPerognathus formosus and its relationships within a desert ecosystem: US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 75-18. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah. 6 p.
Davidson, E., 1973, Effects of off-road motorcycle activity on Mojave Desert vegetation, p. 19–44,in K. Berry, ed., Preliminary studies of the effect of off-road vehicles on the northwestern Mojave Desert: a collection of papers. Ridgecrest, California, no pagination.
Davidson, E., and M. Fox, 1974, Effects of off-road motorcycle activity on Mojave Desert vegetation and soil: Madroño, v. 22, p. 381–390.
Dingman, R.E., and L. Byers, 1974, Interaction between a fossorial rodent (the pocket gopher,Thomomys bottae) and a desert plant community: US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 74-22. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah. 6 p.
Donart, G.B., and C.W. Cook., 1970, Carbohydrate reserve content of mountain range plants following defoliation and regrowth: J. Range Manage., v. 23, p. 15–19.
Duck, T., 1976, The effects of off-road vehicles on desert flora: Abstract, So. Calif. Acad. Sci., Santa Barbara, Calif., May, 1976. p. 52.
Eckert, R.E., M.K. Wood, and F.F. Peterson, 1976, Properties, occurence and management of soils with vesicular surface horizons. Progress Report of Nevada Agri. Expt. Station to Bureau of Land Management. January 31, 1976. 40 p.
French, N.R. 1964. Description of a study of ecological effects on a desert area from chronic exposure to low level ionizing radiation. USAEC Report, TID-4500, 34th ed., 27 p.
Johnson, H.B., F.C. Vasek, and T. Yonkers, 1975, Productivity, diversity and stability relationships in Mojave Desert roadside vegetation: Bull. Tor. Bot. Club, v. 102, p. 106–115.
Keefe, J., and K. Berry, 1973, Effects of off road vehicles on desert shrubs at Dove Springs Canyon, p. 19–44.in K. Berry, ed. Preliminary studies on the effects of off road vehicles on the northwestern Mojave Desert: a collection of papers. Ridgecrest, California. 100 p.
Luckenbach, R.A., 1975, What the ORVS are doing to the desert: Fremontia, v. 2, p. 3–11.
Maza, B.G., N.R. French, and A.P. Aschwanden, 1973, Home range dynamics in a population of heteromyid rodents: J. Mammal., v. 54, p. 405–425.
—, and F.B. Turner, 1975, Mammals,in F.B. Turner, ed. Rock Valley validation site report. US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 75-2. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah, p. 46–51.
Medica, P.A., G.A. Hoddenbach, and J.R. Lannom, Jr., 1971, Lizard sampling techniques: Rock Valley Misc. Publ. No. 1. 55 p.
Mispagel, M.E., and R. Zembal., 1976, Effect of military maneuvers on Mojave Desert vegetation: Abstract, So. Calif. Acad. Sci. Santa Barbara, Calif., May, 1976. p. 52.
Romney, E.M., V.Q. Hale, A. Wallace, O.R. Lunt, J.D. Childress, H. Kaaz, G.V. Alexander, J.E. Kinnear, and T.L. Ackerman, 1973, Some characteristics of soil and perennial vegetation in northern Mojave Desert areas of the Nevada Test Site, USAEC Report, TID-4500, 340 p.
Schumacher, F.X., and R.W. Eschmeyer, 1943, The estimation of fish populations in lakes and ponds: J. Tenn. Acad. Sci., v. 18, p. 228–249.
Siegel, S., 1956, Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. McGraw-Hill, New York, Toronto, and London. 312 p.
Sokal, R.R., and F.J. Rohlf, 1969, Biometry; the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco. 776 p.
Stebbins, R.C., 1974, Off-road vehicles and the fragile desert: Amer. Biol. Teacher, v. 36, p. 203–208, 294–304.
Turner, F.B., ed. 1972, Rock Valley validation site report. US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 72-2. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah, 68 p.
—, ed., 1973, Rock Valley validation site report. US/IBP Desert Biome Res. Memo. 73-2. Utah State Univ., Logan, Utah., 211 p.
—, and C.S. Gist., 1965, Influences of a thermonuclear cratering test on close-in populations of lizards: Ecology, v. 46, p. 845–852.
—, P.A. Medica, J.R. Lannom, Jr., and G.A. Hoddenbach, 1969, A demographic analysis of fenced populations of the whiptail lizard,Cnemidophorus tigris, in southern Nevada: SWest. Natur., v. 14, p. 189–202.
Van De Graaff, K.M., and R.B. Balda, 1973, Importance of green vegetation for reproduction in the kangaroo rat,Dipodomys merriami merriami: J. Mammal., v. 54, p. 509–512.
Vasek, F.C., H.B. Johnson, and G.D. Brum, 1975a, Effects of power transmission lines on vegetation of the Mojave Desert: Madroño, v. 23, p. 114–130.
—, H.B. Johnson, and D.H. Eslinger, 1975b, Effects of pipeline construction on creosote bush scrub vegetation of the Mojave Desert: Madroño, v. 23, p. 1–13.
Wallace, A., and E.M. Romney, 1972, Radioecology and ecophysiology of desert plants at the Nevada Test Site, USAEC Report, TID-25954, 439 p.
Webb, R., 1976, The effect of off-road vehicles on desert soil. Abstract, So. Calif. Acad. Sci., Santa Barbara, Calif., May, 1976, p. 52.
Wells, P.V., 1961, Succession in desert vegetation on streets of a Nevada ghost town: Science, v. 134, p.670–671.
Wilshire, H.G. and J.K. Nakata, 1976, Off-road vehicle effects on California's Mojave Desert: Calif. Geol., v. 29, p. 123–130.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vollmer, A.T., Maza, B.G., Medica, P.A. et al. The impact of off-road vehicles on a desert ecosystem. Environmental Management 1, 115–129 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866102
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01866102