Show simple item record

AuthorErfanian, Mohammad Bagher
AuthorAlatalo, Juha M.
AuthorEjtehadi, Hamid
Available date2022-01-17T08:15:21Z
Publication Date2021-12-01
Publication NameScientific Reports
Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99261-5
CitationErfanian, M.B., Alatalo, J.M. & Ejtehadi, H. Severe vegetation degradation associated with different disturbance types in a poorly managed urban recreation destination in Iran. Sci Rep 11, 19695 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99261-5
URIhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85116342867&origin=inward
URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/10576/25670
AbstractRecreational activities worldwide have major impacts on the environment. This study examined the impact of different kinds of recreational activities on plant communities in a highly visited park in Mashhad, Iran. Vegetation in the park was sampled along 41 random 10-m transects with different human disturbances (trails, dirt roads, campsites) and undisturbed communities. Life form spectrum, species composition, species and phylogenetic diversity were determined for all communities. Disturbance increased the frequency of therophytes, but decreased the frequency of chamaephytes and percentage vegetated area. Recreational-mediated disturbance had variable impact on species composition, but decreased species and phylogenetic diversity compared with undisturbed areas. Roads and campsites caused the greatest damage, while trails had the smallest negative impact on vegetation. This study showed that damage to (semi-)natural park vegetation differs with recreation activity. This finding can help prioritise management activities to minimise negative impacts of recreation activities on local vegetation. The current visitor load to the urban park studied here appears too high to be sustainable over time, so better monitoring and restrictions on visitor numbers may be needed to minimise the negative impacts on park vegetation. The camping impacts can be managed by creating clusters of designated campsites to spatially concentrate the impact area. Low-impact practices should be communicated to visitors.
SponsorThis work was fnancially supported by Iran National Science Foundation, INSF (grant number: 98026163)
Languageen
PublisherSpringer Nature
SubjectIran
recreational activities
Vegetation
TitleSevere vegetation degradation associated with different disturbance types in a poorly managed urban recreation destination in Iran
TypeArticle
Issue Number1
Volume Number11
dc.accessType Open Access


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record