Effects of nature trails on ground vegetation and understory colonization of a patchy remnant forest in an urban domain

Abstract

Effects of nature trails on understory vegetation was studied in a self recovering patchy forest remained in an urban sprawl of central Japan. An adverse impact of soil compaction at surface level, originating basically from human trampling, was found on root development and stem growth of understory colonizers implying a succession deterrence. Ground coverage was reduced with proliferated path web in trampled sites and a few species showed site preference. Management options such as demarcation of trek routes and their rotational use could help revitalize the colonization to further succession process.