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A Disturbance Index for Karst Environments

Environmental Management volume 36, pages 101–116 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Karst environments, unique from other environments, require their own disturbance index. Karst resources are increasingly disturbed by a variety of processes related to social, physical, and economic factors. Recent studies have begun to qualify and quantify these disturbances, yet their focus has been limited to one or two factors such as biotic, geomorphic, or economic impacts. A more holistic approach, addressing economic, scientific, and cultural factors, is needed, to effectively assess the threats to karst areas. Currently, there is no efficient method to measure, compare, and contrast the disturbance of karst environments. We propose a hierarchal and standardized environmental disturbance index as a tool to measure regional impacts and highlight the areas of the karst system that require more protection or study. Addressed categories of disturbance include cultural, biotic, atmospheric, hydrological, and geomorphologic impacts.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank William White for his helpful thoughts and comments on this article and especially thank John Mylroie for suggesting the idea of a karst disturbance index and commenting on the completed text.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue SCA238, Tampa, Florida, 33620-5150, USA

    Philip Van Beynen

  2. Nelson Poytner Memorial Library, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, 140 7th Avenue N, St. Petersburg , Florida, 33701, USA

    Kaya Townsend

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  1. Philip Van Beynen
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  2. Kaya Townsend
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Correspondence to Philip Van Beynen.

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Van Beynen, P., Townsend, K. A Disturbance Index for Karst Environments. Environmental Management 36, 101–116 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-004-0265-9

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Keywords

  • Caves
  • Karst
  • Index
  • Human impact
  • Environmental indicators