Testing for synergistic effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbance on ecological communities at a landscape scale.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Anthropogenic and natural disturbances may interact synergistically, magnifying their individual effects on biodiversity. However, few studies have measured responses of ecological communities to multiple stressors at landscape scales.

Objectives

We use a long-term dataset to test for synergistic effects of anthropogenic and natural disturbance on plant community diversity and composition in a large protected area.

Methods

We quantified changes in plant communities over two decades in 98 plots in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada. Fifty-three plots burned in a wildfire in the interim. We modeled the effects of wildfire, proximity to trails or roads, and their interaction on changes in species richness, community composition, relative abundance of disturbanc

SUBMITTER: Lloren JI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10895711 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature