Trail Impacts In A Tropical Rainforest National Park
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2021-036
Abstract
Generally considered a sustainable economic activity, tourism can generate environmental deterioration due to a lack of planning. In this case, the edge effect is utilized to assess the degree of human interference in the environment. Although the Atlantic Forest is known as a hotspot because of its high species richness and endemism, it is also a threatened biome. In this context of anthropogenic pressure, our work assesses the edge-interior gradient in the regenerating forest based on the physical characteristics of vegetation and floristic composition, in addition to providing overall guidelines to effectively assist in its management. For this study, 30 plots of 25 m² (10 m x 2.5 m) equally distributed among the edges of trails and locations 20 and 40 m away from them were established, with the greatest length measured parallel to the edge of the tracks. Overall, 443 individuals of 122 species were investigated. More than 60 of them were endemic to Brazil, 13.3% were threatened and 9.1% were widely distributed species. Some species were present at all distances from the trails, others co-occurred, but the majority were exclusive to a single plot category. Differences in species diversity were also observed with an increasing trend in dominance at the edges of trails along with a decreased richness at the same distance.
Keywords
trail disturbance,
ecotourism,
edge effect,
forest fragmentation,
habitat modification,
Tijuca Forest
Supporting agencies: We thank Vinicius Gomes da Costa for help in all fieldworks in TNP. We also thank Alice Sá Rego de Azevedo, Aline Silva Machado, Gláucia Maria Alves de Oliveira e Gustavo Alves Cunha Martins for help in fieldwork. A special thanks to Andrew Merchant (University of Sydney) for helpful comments on the manuscript. We would also like to thank the staff of ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade) who works in Tijuca National Park. This work was partially supported by Brazilian science foundation FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), and CNPq/UNIRIO (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico). ICMBio authorization 15160.
About the Authors
Erika S. De Almeida
Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Brazil
Av. Pasteur 296, Urca Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22290-250
Richieri A. Sartori
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
Brazil
Brazil
Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900
André S. Zaú
Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Brazil
Av. Pasteur 296, Urca Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22290-250
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For citations:
De Almeida E.S., Sartori R.A., Zaú A.S. Trail Impacts In A Tropical Rainforest National Park. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2022;15(2):5-12. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2021-036
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