Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

IMPACTS OF VISITORS ON SOIL AND VEGETATION OF THE RECREATIONAL AREA “NACIMIENTO DEL RÍO MUNDO” (CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, SPAIN)

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the effects of recreational use on the soil and vegetation at a site of ecological importance (Nacimiento del Río Mundo, Albacete, Spain). The most visited sites showed increased soil compaction of approximately 50%, bare ground increase to 61 ± 10% and a decrease in richness (from 25 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 species), diversity (from 4.0 ± 0.1 to 2.7 ± 0.4) and stratification of plant species (from 80 ± 11 to 21 ± 4%). The most visited sites had 90% less plant species as compared to the least visited. Intense use was associated with the presence of nitrophilous plant and vegetal species with a morphology adapted to heavy trampling. The recreational areas showed a distribution pattern of impact radiating outwards from the most used and degraded point. At the most visited point, “Los Chorros” (the spring of the river), the impact radiated outwards for about 20 m. A pilot experiment examining the effects of one-year restriction to visitors for access to a formerly impacted area showed a plant cover increase by anthropic and not by native species of 57 percent units.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bayfield, N.G.: 1979, ‘Recovery of four montane heath communities on Cairngorm, Scotland, from disturbance by trampling’, Biol. Conserv. 15, 165–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belnap, J,: 1998, ‘Choosing indicators of natural resource condition: A case study in Arches National Park, Utah, USA’, Environ. Manage. 22, 635–642.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonneau, M. and Souchier, B,: 1987, ‘Pédologie. 2. Constituants et propriétés du sol’, Masson, S.A. Paris.

  • Brown, J.H., Kalisz, S.P. and Wright, W.R,: 1977, ‘Effects of recreational use on forested sites’, Environ. Geol. 1, 425–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burden, R.F. and Randerson, P.F,: 1972, ‘Quantitative studies of effects of human trampling on vegetation as an aid to the management of seminatural areas’, J. Appl. Ecol. 9, 439–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canfield, R.H,: 1941, ‘Application of the line intercept methods in sampling range vegetation’, J. Forestry 39, 384–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chi Yung, J,: 1989, ‘Visitor management in recreation areas’, Environ. Conserv. 16, 19–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N: 1982, Wilderness Campsite Impacts: Effect of Amount of Use, USDA Forest Service Research Paper INT-284, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, Utah, 34 pp.

  • Cole, D.N: 1985, Recreational Trampling Effects on Six Habitat Types in Western Montana, USDA Forest Service Research Paper INT-350, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, Utah, 43 pp.

  • Cole, D.N: 1995a, Recreational Trampling Experiments: Effects of Trampler Weight and Shoe Type, USDA Forest Service Research Note INT-RN-425, 4 pp.

  • Cole, D.N,: 1995b, ‘Experimental trampling of vegetation. I. Relationship between trampling intensity and vegetation response’, J. Appl. Ecol. 32, 203–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N,: 1995c, ‘Experimental trampling of vegetation. II. Predictors of resistance and resilience’, J. Appl. Ecol. 32, 215–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N,: 1995d, ‘Disturbance of natural vegetation by camping: Experimental applications of low-level stress’, Environ. Manage. 19, 405–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N. and Fichtler, R.K,: 1983, ‘Campsite impact in three western wilderness areas’, Environ. Manage. 7, 275–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N. and Marion, J.L,: 1988, ‘Recreation impacts in some riparian forests of the eastern United States’, Environ. Manage. 12, 99–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, D.N. and Bayfield, N.G,: 1993, ‘Recreational trampling of vegetation: Standard experimental procedures’, Biol. Conserv. 63, 209–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vries, P.G,: 1986, Sampling Theory for Forest Inventory, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ejnaes, R. and Bruun, H.H,: 1995, ‘Prediction of grassland quality for environmental management’, J. Environ. Manage. 41, 171–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, D.J., Adams, E.D., Ely, J.S., Gustafson, D.J., McEwen, D. and Evans, T.R,: 2000, ‘Eighteen years of herbaceous layer recovery of a recreation area in a mesic forest’, J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 127, 230–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Limón, J. and De Lucio, J.V,: 1995, ‘Recreational activities and loss of diversity in grassland in Alta Manzanares Natural Park, Spain’, Biol. Conserv. 74, 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, C.N. and Kuss, F.R,: 1989, ‘Vegetation alteration along trails in Shenandoah National Park Virginia’, Biol. Conserv. 48, 211–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammitt, W.E. and Cole, D.N,: 1987, Wildland Recreation. Ecology and Management, John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hylgaard, T. and Liddle, M.J,: 1981, ‘The effect of human trampling on a sand dune ecosystem dominated by Empetrum nigrum J. Appl. Ecol. 18, 559–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, F.R. and Graefe, A.R,: 1985, ‘Effects of recreation trampling on natural area vegetation’, J. Leis. Res. 17, 165–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, F.R. and Hall, C.N,: 1991, ‘Ground flora trampling studies: Five years after closure’, Environ. Manage. 15, 715–727.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaPage, W.F: 1967, Some Observations on Campground Trampling and Ground Cover Response, USDA Forest Service Research Paper NE-68, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, 11 pp.

  • Liddle, M.J,: 1975, ‘A selective review of the ecological effects of human trampling on natural ecosystems’, Biol. Conserv. 7, 17–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddle, M.J,: 1991, ‘Recreation ecology: Effects of trampling on plants and corals’, Trends Ecol. Evol. 6, 13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddle, M.J. and Greig-Smith, P,: 1975, ‘A survey of tracks and paths in a sand dune ecosystem. II. Vegetation’, J. Appl. Ecol. 12, 893–940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddle, M.J. and Thyer, N.C,: 1986, ‘Trampling and fire in a subtropical dry sclerophyll forest’, Environ. Conserv. 13, 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockaby, B.G. and Dunn, B.A,: 1984, ‘Camping effects on selected soil and vegetative properties’, J. Soil Water Conserv. 39, 215–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luckenbach, R.A. and Bury, R.B,: 1983, ‘Effects of off-road vehicles on the biota of the Algodones Dunes, Imperial County, California’, J. Appl. Ecol. 20, 265–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, R.E,: 1979, ‘Impacts of recreation on riparian soils and vegetation’, Water Resour. Bull. 15, 30–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, R.E., Ballinger, N.L., Marion, J. and Roggenbuck, J,: 1996, ‘Recreation management in natural areas: Problems and practices, status and trends’, Nat. Areas J. 16, 142–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marion, J.L. and Merriam, L.C: 1985, Recreational Impacts on Well-Established Campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Agriculture Experiment Station Technical Bulletin AD-SB-2502, University of Minnesota, 16 pp.

  • Marion, J.L. and Cole, D.N,: 1996, ‘Statial and temporal variation in soil and vegetation impacts on campsites’, Ecol. Appl. 6, 520–530.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, C.O,: 1989, ‘Visitor use impacts within the Knobstone Trail Corridor’, J. Soil Water Conserv. 4, 156–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monti, P. and Mackintosh, E.E,: 1979, ‘Effects of camping on surface soil properties in the boreal forest region of northwestern Ontario, Canada’, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 43, 1024–1029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, N.W. and Morgan, R.P.C,: 1980, ‘Simulation of soil erosion induced by human trampling’, J. Environ. Manage. 10, 155–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, M.T. and Brown, T.C: 1992, Economic Value of Campground Visits in Arizona, USDA Forest Service Research Paper RM-305, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experimental Station, Fort Collins, Colorado, 23 pp.

  • Stohlgren, T.J. and Parsons, D.J,: 1986, ‘Vegetation and soil recovery in wilderness campsites closed to visitor use’, Environ. Manage. 10, 375–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, D. and Liddle, M.J,: 1993, ‘Plant morphological characteristics and response to simulated trampling’, Environ. Manage. 17, 511–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Zande, A.N., Poppelaars, A.J. and ter Keurs, W.J,: 1985, ‘Distribution patterns of visitors in large areas: A problem of measurement and anlysis’, Leis. Stud. 4, 85–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Washburne, R.F. and Cole, D.N: 1983, Problems and Practices in Wilderness Management: A Survey of Managers, USDA Forest Service, Research Paper INT-304, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, Utah, 56 pp.

  • Weaver, T. and Dale, D,: 1978, ‘Trampling effects of hikers, motorcycles and horses in meadows and forests’, J. Appl. Ecol. 15, 451–458.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal, E.T.S.I. Agrónomos, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario, Albacete, Spain

    MANUELA ANDRÉS-ABELLÁN, TOMÁS LANDETE-CASTILLEJOS, FRANCISCO R. LÓPEZ-SERRANO, FRANCISCO A. GARCÍA-MOROTE & ANTONIO DEL CERRO-BARJA

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain

    JAVIER BENAYAS DEL ÁLAMO

  3. Sección de Recursos Cinegéticos, IDR, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain

    TOMÁS LANDETE-CASTILLEJOS

  4. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (CSIC-UCLM-JCCLM), Sección Albacete, Albacete, Spain

    TOMÁS LANDETE-CASTILLEJOS

Authors
  1. MANUELA ANDRÉS-ABELLÁN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. JAVIER BENAYAS DEL ÁLAMO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. TOMÁS LANDETE-CASTILLEJOS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. FRANCISCO R. LÓPEZ-SERRANO
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. FRANCISCO A. GARCÍA-MOROTE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. ANTONIO DEL CERRO-BARJA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to MANUELA ANDRÉS-ABELLÁN.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ANDRÉS-ABELLÁN, M., ÁLAMO, J.B.D., LANDETE-CASTILLEJOS, T. et al. IMPACTS OF VISITORS ON SOIL AND VEGETATION OF THE RECREATIONAL AREA “NACIMIENTO DEL RÍO MUNDO” (CASTILLA-LA MANCHA, SPAIN). Environ Monit Assess 101, 55–67 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-9130-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-9130-4

Keywords:

Search

Navigation