Long-term human impact on Alpine Tundra - 25 years of changes assessed by aerial photography

• Main Authors: Müllerová, J. (Jana), Vítková, M. (Michaela)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: change detection; remote sensing; road disturbance; Arctic; Tundra
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0235708

In our study we assessed the long-term effects of alkaline gravel used for trail stabilization upon adjacent alpine tundra vegetation on nutrient poor sub-alpine plateau of Krkonoše Mts National Park, Czech Republic, using a series of aerial MSS (1986, 1989, 1997) and CIR imagery (2012), GPS mapping, and repeated soil and vegetation surveys. Aerial imagery was analyzed using both pixel and object-based approach. During the study period of 25 years, the area of roadside vegetation more then doubled, showing high rate of spread. In terrain depressions leading down the slope from alkaline stabilized roads it formed extensive lobes reflecting the nature of the terrain and reaching far into undisturbed vegetation (up to 156m). The spread of roadside vegetation was spatially examined to determine its driving forces, and was found to be significantly related to the type of the stabilizing material and the position relative to the road (slope position, distance from the road), indicating the effect of runoff water. The latest imagery of 2012 documented reconstruction of trails (started in 2005). The conservation measure stopped the ecosystem alteration although the damage during reconstruction was extensive and ability of arctic alpine tundra to recover in the extreme climatic conditions very slow. Longer time lag is therefore needed to record the recovery process.