Recreational Changes in the Forest Ecosystem Components: Case Study of the Cultural Heritage Site “White Sea Petroglyphs” (Republic of Karelia)

Complete text of the article:

Download article (pdf, 1.1MB )

UDС

630*627.3:574.4:903.27(470.22)

DOI:

10.37482/0536-1036-2020-5-90-105

Abstract

Recreation digression of forest ecosystems in the heritage site “White Sea Petroglyphs” was studied for the first time. This site is a compact system of rock outcrops partially cleared of forest vegetation, which bear Neolithic rock carvings (petroglyphs), and are linked together by walking trails. Patterns have been identified in the transformation of soils, plant cover components (tree stand, tree seedlings, understory and living ground cover), as well as fine roots (within 3 mm in diameter) of woody species under the recreation impact. Trampling was found to deform and destroy the top soil horizons, entailing a significant loss of the forest floor thickness and organic matter stores. Overall, the flora of the area is quite well preserved; 95–100 % of which is represented by native species. The living ground cover is noticeably damaged in the most actively used sites (fragments of trails and vista points). They feature a poor species composition, shrinking of the herb-dwarf shrub and moss-lichen cover, and a low percent cover of grassland and ruderal species. Easily accessible and actively visited sites have no or reducing amounts of tree seedlings, the tree stand is damaged and forest regeneration is hampered – the number of viable seedlings is minimal (100 pcs/ha). The mass of roots below 3 mm in diameter in heavily trampled trails showed a reduction of up to 74 %, while the root saturation in less affected trails slightly increased. Recreation transformations of the plant communities have not resulted in a loss of their resilience so far. The recreational digression in the studied sites was classified into stages I–III (weakly disturbed – strongly disturbed). Function zoning of the area should be modified using recreation-tolerant communities more intensively in order to reduce recreation impact. The most damaged areas, which are losing their stability, should be excluded from active use by modification of walking trails and building additional boardwalks.
Acknowledgments: We gratefully acknowledge M.A. Boychuk (Institute of Biology, KarRC RAS) for identification (verification) of moss samples.

Authors

А.В. Туюнен, мл. науч. сотр.; ResearcherID: C-6958-2013,
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6145-0513
В.В. Тимофеева, канд. биол. наук, науч. сотр.; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0036-4184
А.Ю. Карпечко, канд. с.-х. наук, науч. сотр.; ResearcherID: AAL-8675-2020,
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1693-2510
Ю.Н. Ткаченко, вед. почвовед; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4274-0907
В.А. Карпин, мл. науч. сотр.; ResearcherID: AAT-1801-2020,
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5508-3104
Н.В. Петров, канд. с.-х. наук, мл. науч. сотр.; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9644-5968

Affiliation

Forest Research Institute of the Karelian Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Pushkinskaya, 11, Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, 185910, Russian Federation;
e-mail: tuyunen@krc.karelia.ru, timofeevavera2010@yandex.ru, 
yuvkarp@onego.ru, tkachenko@krc.karelia.ru, landscapeexplorer@gmail.com, nvpetrov@krc.karelia.ru

Keywords

recreational pressure, trampling, soil, forest litter, living ground cover, flora, tree stand, digression, fine roots, root occupation

Funding

The research was financially supported from the federal budget for the fulfillment of the state assignment of the Forest Research Institute, KarRC RAS

For citation

Tuyunen A.V., Timofeeva V.V., Karpechko A.Yu., Tkachenko Y.N., Karpin V.A., Petrov N.V. Recreational Changes in the Forest Ecosystem Components: Case Study of the Cultural Heritage Site “White Sea Petroglyphs” (Republic of Karelia). Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2020, no. 5, pp. 90–105. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2020-5-90-105

References

1. Atlas of the Karelian ASSR. Moscow, GUGK Publ., 1989. 40 p.
2. Bednova O.V. The Method of Changes Assessment in Recreation Forests. Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta lesa – Lesnoy vestnik [Forestry Bulletin], 2013, no. 7(99), pp. 77–87.
3. Devlet Е.G. Rock Art Heritage: Study, Conservation and Use. Moscow, Scientific World Publ., 2002. 240 p.
4. Kalinin M.I. Formation of the Tree Root System. Moscow, Lesnaya promyshlennost’ Publ., 1983. 152 p.
5. Karpechko A.Yu. Changes in Density and Root Mass in Soils under the Influence of Harvesting Machines in Spruce Forests of Southern Karelia. Lesovedenie [Russian Journal of Forest Science], 2008, iss. 5, pp. 66–70.
6. Integrated Description and Assessment of Natural Ecosystems, Determination of Permissible Anthropogenic Pressure on Petroglyph-Bearing Sites and Surrounding Landscapes on the Shores of Lake Onego and the White Sea (2017–2018): Scientific Report No. ОУ-12/17-14. Supervision by A.N. Gromtsev. Republican Center for State Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites. Petrozavodsk, KarRC RAS, 2018.
7. Kravchenko A.V. A Compendium of Karelian Flora (Vascular Plants). Petrozavodsk, KarRC RAS Publ., 2007. 403 p.
8. The Red Book of the Republic of Karelia. Petrozavodsk, Karelia Publ., 2007. 364 p.
9. Polyakova G.A., Malysheva T.V., Flerov A.A. Anthropogenic Impact on Pine Forests in the Surroundings of Moscow. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1981. 144 p.
10. Natural Ecosystems of Valaam and Recreational Impact on Them. Petrozavodsk, Karel’skiy filial AN SSSR Publ., 1983. 190 p.
11. Ramenskaya M.L. Analysis of the Flora of the Murmansk Region and Karelia. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1983. 215 p.
12. Rysin L.P. Recreational Forests and Optimization of Recreational Forest Management. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1983, pp. 5–20.
13. Savvateev Yu. A. The Eternal Monuments (Petroglyphs of Karelia). Petrozavodsk, KarRC RAS Publ., 2007. 458 p.
14. Smaglyuk K.K., Seredin V.I., Pitikin A.I., Parpan V.I. A Study of Recreational Forest Management in the Carpathians. Recreational Forest Management in the USSR. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1983, pp. 81–95.
15. Sukachev V.N., Zonn S.V. Methodology Guidelines for the Study of Forest Types. Moscow, AN SSSR Publ., 1961. 144 p.
16. Tarasov A.I. Recreational Forest Management. Moscow, Agropromizdat Publ., 1986. 176 p.
17. Fadeeva M.A., Golubkova N.S., Vitikainen O., Ahti T. Conspectus of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi of the Republic of Karelia. Petrozavodsk, KarRC RAS Publ., 2007. 194 p.
18. Fedosimov A.N., Anisochkin V.G. Selective Forest Valuation. Moscow, Lesnaya promyshlennost’ Publ., 1979. 172 p.
19. Tsvelev N.N. Identification Guide of Vascular Plants of Northwest Russia (Leningrad, Pskov and Novgorod Regions). Saint Petersburg, SPCPA Publ., 2000. 781 p.
20. Arnesen T. Vegetation Dynamics Following Trampling in Grassland and Heathland in Sølendet Nature Reserve, a Boreal Upland Area in Central Norway. Nordic Journal of Botany, 1999, vol. 19, iss. 1, pp. 47–69. DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-1051.1999.tb01902.x
21. Arnesen T., Lyngstad A. Effekter av tråkk og annen ferdsel på vegetasjonen i friluftsområder [Effects from Trampling and Other Activities in Recreation Areas]. Blyttia, 2012, vol. 70(3), pp. 159–172.
22. Berger T.W., Hager H. Physical Top Soil Properties in Pure Stands of Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and Mixed Species Stands in Austria. Forest Ecology and Management, 2000, vol. 136, iss. 1-3, pp. 159–172. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1127(99)00286-8
23. Bjønness I.-M. Outdoor Recreation and Its Impact upon a Boreal Forest Area – Bymarka, Trondheim, Norway. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift [Norwegian Journal of Geography], 1981, vol. 35, iss. 2, pp. 57–77. DOI: 10.1080/00291958108552063
24. Brunner I., Godbold D.L. Tree Roots in a Changing World. Journal of Forest Research, 2007, vol. 12, iss. 2, pp. 78–82. DOI: 10.1007/s10310-006-0261-4
25. Hamberg L., Lehvävirta S., Malmivaara-Lämsä M., Rita H., Kotze D.J. The Effects of Habitat Edges and Trampling on Understorey Vegetation in Urban Forests in Helsinki, Finland. Applied Vegetation Science, 2008, vol. 11(1), pp. 83–98. DOI: 10.1111/j.1654-109X.2008.tb00207.x
26. Hansen K., Malmaeus M. Ecosystem Services in Swedish Forests. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 2016, vol. 31, iss. 6, pp. 626–640. DOI: 10.1080/02827581.2016.1164888
27. Harshaw H.W., Sheppard S.R.J., Kozak R.A. Outdoor Recreation and Forest Management: A Plea for Empirical Data. The Forestry Chronicle, 2007, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 231–238. DOI: 10.5558/tfc83231-2
28. Ignatov M.S., Afonina O.M., Ignatova E.A. et al. Check-List of Mosses of East Europe and North Asia. Arctoa, 2006, vol. 5, pp. 1–130. DOI: 10.15298/arctoa.15.01
29. International Plant Names Index (IPNI). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries and Australian National Botanic Gardens. 2019. Available at: http://www.ipni.org (accessed 01.05.19).
30. Kangas K., Sulkava P., Koivuniemi P., Tolvanen A., Siikamäki P., Norokorpi Y. What Determines the Area of Impact around Campsites? A Case Study in a Finnish National Park. Forest Snow and Landscape Research, 2007, vol. 81, iss. 1/2, pp. 139–150.
31. Kissling M., Hegetschweiler K.T., Rusterholz H.-P., Baur B. Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Human Trampling on Above-Ground Vegetation, Soil Density, Soil Organic Matter and Soil Microbial Processes in Suburban Beech Forests. Applied Soil Ecology, 2009, vol. 42, iss. 3, pp. 303–314. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.05.008
32. Korkanc S.Y. Impacts of Recreational Human Trampling on Selected Soil and Vegetation Properties of Aladag Natural Park, Turkey. Catena, 2014, vol. 113, pp. 219–225. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2013.08.001
33. Kozlowski T.T. Soil Compaction and Growth of Woody Plants. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 1999, vol. 14, iss. 6, pp. 596–619. DOI: 10.1080/02827589908540825
34. Liddle M. Recreation Ecology: The Ecological Impact of Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism. London, Chapman & Hall, 1997. 639 p.
35. Malmivaara-Lämsä M., Hamberg L., Löfström I., Vanha-Majamaa I., Niemelä J. Trampling Tolerance of Understorey Vegetation in Different Hemiboreal Urban Forest Site Types in Finland. Urban Ecosystems, 2008, vol. 11, iss. 1, pp. 1–16. DOI: 10.1007/s11252-007-0046-3
36. Marion J.L., Cole D.N. Spatial and Temporal Variation in Soil and Vegetation Impacts on Campsites. Ecological Applications, 1996, vol. 6, iss. 2, pp. 520–530. DOI: 10.2307/2269388
37. Mason S., Newsome D., Moore S., Admiraal R. Recreational Trampling Negatively Impacts Vegetation Structure of an Australian Biodiversity Hotspot. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2015, vol. 24, iss. 11, pp. 2685–2707. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-015-0957-x
38. Pickering C.M., Hill W. Impacts of Recreation and Tourism on Plant Biodiversity and Vegetation in Protected Areas in Australia. Journal of Environmental Management, 2007, vol. 85, iss. 4, pp. 791–800. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.11.021
39. Research and Monitoring of Sustainability of Nature-Based Tourism and Recreational Use of Nature in Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks. Ed. by P. Siikamäki. Oulanka Reports No. 29. Oulu, University of Oulu, 2009. 52 p.
40. Sherman C., Unc A., Doniger T., Ehrlich R., Steinberger Y. The Effect of Human Trampling Activity on a Soil Microbial Community at the Oulanka Natural Reserve, Finland. Applied Soil Ecology, 2019, vol. 135, pp. 104–112. DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.11.013
41. Sun D., Walsh D. Review of Studies on Environmental Impacts of Recreation and Tourism in Australia. Journal of Environmental Management, 1998, vol. 53, iss. 4, pp. 323–338. DOI: 10.1006/jema.1998.0200
42. Timofeeva V., Kutenkov S. Analysis of Recreational Impact on Living Ground Cover in Forests on Paanajärvi National Park (Republic of Karelia, Russia). Research and Monitoring of Sustainability of Nature-Based Tourism and Recreational Use of Nature in Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks. Oulanka Reports No. 29. Oulu, University of Oulu, 2009, pp. 16–26.
43. Vakhlamova T., Rusterholz H.-P., Kamkin V., Baur B. Recreational Use of Urban and Suburban Forests Affects Plant Diversity in a Western Siberian City. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 2016, vol. 17, pp. 92–103. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2016.03.009
44. Waltert B., Wiemken V., Rusterholz H.-P., Boller T., Baur B. Disturbance of Forest by Trampling: Effects on Mycorrhizal Roots of Seedlings and Mature Trees of Fagus sylvatica. Plant and Soil, 2002, vol. 243, iss. 2, pp. 143–154. DOI: 10.1023/a:1019983625473

Received on August 6, 2019