Der Einfluss experimentellen Begehens auf die Biodiversität in Wäldern: Grundlagen zum Management urbaner Erholungswälder

• Unité de recherche: COST
• Numéro de projet: C03.0030

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Biodiversity; outdoor recreation; experimental trampling; urban forests; forest management

Programme de recherche (Anglais)

COST-Action E33 - Forests for Recreation and Nature Tourism, Forrec

Description succincte (Allemand)

Naturnahe Wälder in urbanen Gebieten sind beliebte Erholungsräume. Durch die grosse Zahl der Erholungssuchenden entstehen jedoch Konflikte einerseits mit der Forstwirtschaft und andererseits mit den Bemühungen die Biodiversität dieser Wälder zu erhalten. Im vorliegenden Projekt wird des Einfluss des wiederholten Betretens auf die Biodiversität der Bodenvegetation von Buchenwäldern experimentell untersucht. Die neuen Erkenntnisse liefern wichtige Grundlagen über die Belastbarkeit und Tragfähigkeit des Ökosystems Buchenwald durch die Erholungsnutzung. Sie dienen auch als Planungsgrundlage für das Management naturnaher Erholungswälder. Die im vorliegenden Projekt erarbeiteten Erkenntnisse dürften von europäischem Interesse sein und stellen einen wichtigen Schweizer Beitrag zur COST Aktion E33 dar.

Autres indications (Anglais)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: Universität Basel Institut für Natur-, Landschafts- und Umweltschutz (NLU) Abt. Biologie

Partenaires et organisations internationales (Anglais)

AT, BE, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RS, SE, SK, UK

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

In summer 2005 we have established, in cooperation with the local forest departments, nine areas in three different beech forests in Northwestern Switzerland. During the winter different chemical and physiological soil characteristics were analysed, for example soil microbial biomass and the activity of dehydrogenase (an indicator for the total metabolic activity of soil microorganisms), betaglucosidase and phosphomonoesterase (both key enzymes in the nutrient cycle). In spring 2006 we surveyed the initial state of the vegetation and at the end of April we started the large-scale trampling experiment. For the trampling experiment eight replicated blocks were used per area, which consisted of six lanes each. The trampling frequencies ranged from 25 to 600 passes per lane. Half of the lanes were trampled at once, the other half every fifth week during summer. After each trampling event we have surveyed the above-ground vegetation, the soil compaction and soil temperature. After finishing the trampling season we collected soil samples again which we analysed during winter. In spring 2007 we continued with the trampling but only on the half of the lanes so on the remaining lanes we can study the regeneration of vegetation and soil. In autumn 2007 we collected soil samples as in the years before and we analysed them during the last months. Furthermore, in spring 2006 a leaf decomposition study was initiated in the large scale trampling experiment. In autumn 2006 half of the samples were collected and in autumn 2007 the other half. Different physical and chemical characteristics of the leaf litter were analysed. A project conducted together with Tessa Hegetschweiler in summer 2005 is now ready to be published. We studied whether a short-term trampling experiment provides good indications of long-term effects on vegetation and soil microbial activity in recreational forests. For this purpose we compared experimental human trampling with long-term trampling around six fireplaces in two different forests.

Références bases de données (Anglais)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C03.0030