The Role of Roads and Trails for Facilitating Mountain Plant Invasions

BARROS, AGUSTINA; HAIDER, SYLVIA; JANA MÛLLEROVÁ; JAKE M. ALEXANDER; ALVAREZ, MARÍA ALISA

Tourism, Recreation and Biological Invasions

CAB Internacional

Lugar: Boston; Año: 2023; p. 14 - 26

Mountain ecosystems are comparatively less invaded by non-native plants than lowland ecosystems. However, climate change and current human use increase the risk of plant invasions. This includes risks posed by mountain tourism and recreation, and associated infrastructure. This chapter summarizes global data about non-native species patterns along mountain roads and trails obtained through standard protocols developed by the Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN). A total of 610 non-native species have been recorded along and in close proximity to mountain roads in 18 regions globally, with the highest numbers of non-natives in Australiaand Hawaii. Fewer non-native species have been recorded along trails, 86 across eight regions, with the highest numbers in South American countries. Non-native richness patterns were similar for roads and trails, showing a decrease in species number with increasing elevation and more non-natives on roadsides and trailsides compared to the adjacent natural vegetation. Despite these similarities, non-native plant invasion is far less advanced along mountain trails than along roads, possibly driven by the smaller disturbance effect of trails and lower propagule pressure. Nevertheless, given the potential of both roads and trails to promote plant invasions, it is important to implement management strategies to reduce propagule pressure and disturbance, particularly in high elevation environments of conservation significance.