The impacts of road and walking trails upon adjacent vegetation: effects of road building materials on species composition in a nutrient poor environment

• Published in: Science of The Total Environment
• Main Authors: Müllerová, J. (Jana), Vítková, M. (Michaela), Vítek, O.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: alkalinization effect; artic-alpine tundra; human disturbances; Tundra
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.056; http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0200712

In our study we (1) reconstructed the road-related changes of alpine tundra vegetation and soils in Krkonoše Mts during a decade using aerial data and GPS mapping accompanied by detailed soil and vegetation surveys along transects to study colonization of roadside plant species; (2) assessed the road effects on physical–chemical soil properties and vegetation composition along transects; and (3) proposed conservation measures to stop further damage. Along alkaline roads, fast and profound shifts in physical–chemical soil properties (pH increased from 3.9 up to 7.6, base saturation from 9–30% up to 100%) were recorded. The roadside vegetation (meso- to nitrophilous species and species preferring man-made habitats) doubled in area. The intensity of changes depended significantly on the type of road material and the position relative to the road. To prevent the further damage we recommended replacement of alkaline gravel by granite. The reconstruction of trails has already started.