Tourist vehicle as a selective mechanism for plant dispersal: Evidence from a national park in the eastern Himalaya.

It is increasingly recognised that human vehicle may act as a vector to spread species, but research remains sparse to examine vehicle-mediated spread to natural areas, in particular to protected areas by urbanized societies through increasing tourism/recreation traffic. This study assessed the role of tourist vehicle in driving biotic exchange to Laojun Mountain National Park in the eastern Himalaya. A stratified random sampling method was applied to compare plant seeds in muds collected from different vehicles (sedan, SUV and others) entering the park in different seasons (May, August and October) from different regions. Across the 663 mud samples, 3119 seedlings of 124 species germinated which were predominately roadside ruderals and non-native species. The number of vehicle-dispersed flora was found to be correlated with the amount of mud attached on vehicles, with more seed carried by vehicles travelling in autumn, sport utility vehicles and those from local areas. When seed traits were analysed using generalized linear models, vehicles were more likely disperse appendaged and compact seeds, and those released from low-stature plants such as forb or grass. The results highlight the risks of species introduction and homogenization of flora from seeds on tourist vehicles entering protected areas. Strategies like vehicle washing and managing roadside vegetation may help reduce risks from tourism traffic in the eastern Himalayan parks as well as other sensitive ecosystems around the world.

Understanding and managing the interactions of impacts from nature-based recreation and climate change.

Disturbance to ecosystems in parks and protected areas from nature-based tourism and recreation is increasing in scale and severity, as are the impacts of climate change-but there is limited research examining the degree to which these anthropogenic disturbances interact. In this perspective paper, we draw on the available literature to expose complex recreation and climate interactions that may alter ecosystems of high conservation value such that important species and processes no longer persist. Our emphasis is on ecosystems in high demand for tourism and recreation that also are increasingly experiencing stress from climate change. We discuss the importance of developing predictive models of direct and indirect effects, including threshold and legacy effects at different levels of biological organization. We present a conceptual model of these interactions to initiate a dialog among researchers and managers so that new research approaches and managerial frameworks are advanced to address this emerging issue.

Going off trails: How dispersed visitor use affects alpine vegetation.

Mountain protected areas provide a range of ecosystem services including conserving biodiversity, while often providing recreation and tourism opportunities. Unfortunately, tourists and pack animals used to transport equipment can damage sensitive alpine vegetation particularly when they leave trails. This study assessed the impacts of disturbance from off trail use on alpine vegetation in a popular park in the Andes. The effect of different levels of disturbance as well as abiotic factors on alpine steppe vegetation was assessed using generalized linear models and ordinations in 91 plots (20 m2) in the popular Horcones Valley that is used to access remote areas in Aconcagua Provincial Park in Argentina. Disturbance off trails resulted in declines in the cover of native plants, including the endemic shrub Adesmia aegiceras but increases in the cover of herbs including the non-native Convolvulus arvensis. Increased disturbance was associated with shifts from stress tolerant species to ruderal plants characterized by more acquisitive traits, including shorter plants with greater Specific Leaf Area. The research demonstrates the severity of impacts from off trail trampling including how trampling favours some species with specific traits over others and why it is important to limit off track use in areas of high conservation value.

Color me healthy: food diversity in school community gardens in two rapidly urbanising Australian cities.

Community garden research has focused on social aspects of gardens, neglecting systematic analysis of what food is grown. Yet agrodiversity within community gardens may provide health benefits. Diverse fruit and vegetables provide nutritional benefits, including vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. This paper reports research that investigated the agro-biodiversity of school-based community gardens in Brisbane and Gold Coast cities, Australia. Common motivations for establishing these gardens were education, health and environmental sustainability. The 23 gardens assessed contained 234 food plants, ranging from 7 to 132 plant types per garden. This included 142 fruits and vegetables. The nutritional diversity of fruits and vegetable plants was examined through a color classification system. All gardens grew fruits and vegetables from at least four food color groups, and 75% of the gardens grew plants from all seven color groups. As places with high agrodiversity, and related nutritional diversity, some school community gardens can provide children with exposure to a healthy range of fruit and vegetables, with potential flow-on health benefits.