Pilot testing of a sampling methodology for assessing seed attachment propensity and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires

Hardiman, Nigel, Dietz, Kristina Charlotte, Bride, Ian and Passfield, Louis (2017) Pilot testing of a sampling methodology for assessing seed attachment propensity and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires. Environmental Management, 59 (1). pp. 68-76. ISSN 0364-152X

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Item Type:Article
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

Land managers of natural areas are under pressure to balance demands for increased recreation access with protection of the natural resource. Unintended dispersal of seeds by visitors to natural areas has high potential for weedy plant invasions, with initial seed attachment an important step in the dispersal process. Although walking and mountain biking are popular nature-based recreation activities there are few studies quantifying propensity for seed attachment and transport rate on boot soles and none for bike tires. Attachment and transport rate can potentially be affected by a wide range of factors for which field testing can be time-consuming and expensive. We pilot tested a sampling methodology for measuring seed attachment and transport rate in a soil matrix carried on boot soles and bike tires traversing a known quantity and density of a seed analog (beads) over different distances and soil conditions. We found % attachment rate on boot soles was much lower overall than previously reported but that boot soles had a higher propensity for seed attachment than bike tires in almost all conditions. We believe our methodology offers a cost-effective option for researchers seeking to manipulate and test effects of different influencing factors on these two dispersal vectors.

Keywords:weeds, seed attachment, human-mediated dispersal, tourism impacts, bmjdoi, bmjconvert
Subjects:C Biological Sciences > C180 Ecology
N Business and Administrative studies > N840 International Tourism
N Business and Administrative studies > N800 Tourism, Transport and Travel
N Business and Administrative studies > N222 Recreation/Leisure Management
C Biological Sciences > C150 Environmental Biology
N Business and Administrative studies > N231 Land Management
Divisions:Lincoln International Business School
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ID Code:24354
Deposited On:05 Oct 2016 11:15

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