A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia
Vegetation trampling that arises from off-trail excursions by people walking for recreation can negatively impact the structure of understory plants in natural spaces that are an essential element of urban green infrastructure in a modern city. In addition to reducing the esthetic quality and enviro...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/4/4/72 |
| _version_ | 1797545359990325248 |
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| author | Greg D. Simpson Jackie Parker Erin Gibbens Philip G. Ladd |
| author_facet | Greg D. Simpson Jackie Parker Erin Gibbens Philip G. Ladd |
| author_sort | Greg D. Simpson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vegetation trampling that arises from off-trail excursions by people walking for recreation can negatively impact the structure of understory plants in natural spaces that are an essential element of urban green infrastructure in a modern city. In addition to reducing the esthetic quality and environmental values of urban remnant and replanted native vegetation, such trampling reduces the habitat that supports wildlife populations within the urban fabric. This case study draws upon several disparate methods for measuring vegetation structure and trampling impacts to produce a hybrid method that community-based citizen scientists (and land managers and other researchers) could use to simply, rapidly, and reproducibly monitor how trampling associated with urban recreation trails impacts the structure of understory vegetation. Applying the novel hybrid method provided evidence that trampling had reduced the vegetation structure adjacent to a recreational walking trail in an urban woodland remnant in Perth, Western Australia. The hybrid method also detected ecological variability at the local ecosystem-scale at a second similar woodland remnant in Perth. The hybrid sampling method utilized in this case study provides an effective, efficient, and reproducible data collection method that can be applied to recreation ecology research into aspects of trampling associated with trail infrastructure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:14:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21ebf5fc91614e0183fb7e5f2df26c31 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2413-8851 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:14:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-21ebf5fc91614e0183fb7e5f2df26c312023-11-20T23:52:45ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512020-12-01447210.3390/urbansci4040072A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western AustraliaGreg D. Simpson0Jackie Parker1Erin Gibbens2Philip G. Ladd3Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150, AustraliaHarry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150, AustraliaIluka Resources Limited, Cataby Operations, Brand Highway, Cataby 6507, AustraliaEnvironmental and Conservation Sciences, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth 6150, AustraliaVegetation trampling that arises from off-trail excursions by people walking for recreation can negatively impact the structure of understory plants in natural spaces that are an essential element of urban green infrastructure in a modern city. In addition to reducing the esthetic quality and environmental values of urban remnant and replanted native vegetation, such trampling reduces the habitat that supports wildlife populations within the urban fabric. This case study draws upon several disparate methods for measuring vegetation structure and trampling impacts to produce a hybrid method that community-based citizen scientists (and land managers and other researchers) could use to simply, rapidly, and reproducibly monitor how trampling associated with urban recreation trails impacts the structure of understory vegetation. Applying the novel hybrid method provided evidence that trampling had reduced the vegetation structure adjacent to a recreational walking trail in an urban woodland remnant in Perth, Western Australia. The hybrid method also detected ecological variability at the local ecosystem-scale at a second similar woodland remnant in Perth. The hybrid sampling method utilized in this case study provides an effective, efficient, and reproducible data collection method that can be applied to recreation ecology research into aspects of trampling associated with trail infrastructure.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/4/4/72citizen sciencerecreation ecologyvegetation tramplingurban green infrastructure |
| spellingShingle | Greg D. Simpson Jackie Parker Erin Gibbens Philip G. Ladd A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia Urban Science citizen science recreation ecology vegetation trampling urban green infrastructure |
| title | A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia |
| title_full | A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia |
| title_fullStr | A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia |
| title_short | A Hybrid Method for Citizen Science Monitoring of Recreational Trampling in Urban Remnants: A Case Study from Perth, Western Australia |
| title_sort | hybrid method for citizen science monitoring of recreational trampling in urban remnants a case study from perth western australia |
| topic | citizen science recreation ecology vegetation trampling urban green infrastructure |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/4/4/72 |
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