Rock climbing alters plant species composition, cover, and richness in Mediterranean limestone cliffs.

ABSTRACT: Rock climbing is among the outdoor activities that have undergone the highest growth since the second half of the 20th century. As a result, cliff habitats, historically one of the least disturbed by human colonization worldwide, are facing more intense human pressure than ever before. However, there is little data on the impact of this activity in plant-communities, and such information is indispensable for adequate manager decision-making. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of rock climbing on plant communities in terms of cover, richness, and composition in relation to climbing intensity on typical Mediterranean limestone cliffs. Three rock-climbing sites were selected in the Baetic range (SE Spain), corresponding to qualitative categories of climbing frequentation: i)"l

SUBMITTER: Lorite J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5540606 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature