Thirty-year monitoring of subalpine meadow vegetation following a 1967 trampling experiment at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana

Abstract

This long-term study, monitoring visitor impact on subalpine vegetation beginning in 1967, revealed that after 30 years all treatment plots had returned to pre-treatment ratios of vegetation (all species combined), organic litter and bare ground. Higher trampling intensities produced longer term impacts. Vegetation cover recovered in 19 to 25 years when trampled 15 times per week for six weeks in 1967 compared to 25 to 30 years where trampled 50 times per week. The long-term consequences of human trampling on dry meadow vegetation cannot be assessed from shortterm observations.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Hartley, Ernest. 2000. Thirty-year monitoring of subalpine meadow vegetation following a 1967 trampling experiment at Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana. In: Cole, David N.; McCool, Stephen F.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 5: Wilderness ecosystems, threats, and management; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-5. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 124-132