Impact of off-road vehicles on soil and vegetation in a desert rangeland in Saudi Arabia

Assaeed, Abdulaziz M.; Al‐Rowaily, Saud L.; El‐Bana, Magdy I.; Abood, Abdullah; Dar, Basharat A.; Hegazy, Ahmad K.

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.05.001

Cited by 24 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Turfy swamps are usually located in valleys with perennially accumulated water, and in order to ensure the safe operation of highways, drainage ditches parallel to the highway are built, resulting in a large amount of water loss. Many scholars have reported that wetland drainage can change the physical properties such as density and water content of the original soil [23,24] and cause soil nutrient loss [25]. In any case, there is still a lack of knowledge about how soil microorganisms respond to road drainage and heavy metal pollution in turfy swamps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Bacterial Community Structure in Turfy Swamp and Its Response to Highway Disturbance

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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In recent years, the construction and development of highways in turfy swamp areas has been very common. When highways pass through turfy swamps, they can change the local soil, vegetation and hydrological environment, but the impact on soil microorganisms is unclear. We studied the impact of highways on soil microbial communities and diversity in three turfy swamps. Soil samples were collected in the affected area (distance from the expressway 10 m) and control area (distance from the expressway 500–1000 m), and the soil properties, heavy metal content and microbial composition were measured. Subsequent statistical analysis showed that soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, density and especially water table (WT) are the main driving forces affecting the composition of microorganisms. The WT and density can also be used to predict the change trend of the ratio of proteobacteria to acid bacteria, reflecting the soil nutrient status. In general, the composition of soil microorganisms in turfy swamp is mainly affected by road drainage and heavy metal emissions. This research provides new insights into the impact of highways on turfy swamps from the perspective of bacterial diversity and community composition, and it also provides a basis for the restoration of the wetland ecological environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Bacterial Community Structure in Turfy Swamp and Its Response to Highway Disturbance

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…In the two areas studied here, the soil was subjected to frequent vehicle passage and that may lead to damage seeds and the new seedlings. Off-road vehicle driving in the Saudi Arabia rangelands contributed to soil compaction and the soil bulk density was 38% higher under the motor vehicle tracks than that of undisturbed soils (Assaeed et al 2018). Compacted soil exposes seeds to predators, inhibits seed germination, and impedes seedling growth (Kozlowski 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Existing Status of Acacia Woodlands in Central Saudi Arabia: A Case Study in Hawtat Bani Tamim and Al Duwadmi

Alshahrani¹

2021

IJAB

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Acacia woodlands are ecologically important and it is necessary to understand its structures and dynamics to develop sustainable conservation strategies. This study aimed to provide baseline information on the composition and growth of Acacia woodlands in the Hawtat Bani Tamim and Al Duwadmi regions of central Saudi Arabia. Height, diameter at breast height, crown diameter, seedling density, and soil seed bank content of Acacia tree species were characterized for 27 remote, circular, 0.1-ha plots in both study areas. At Hawtat Bani Tamim, Acacia raddiana, A. tortilis, and A. ehrenbergiana accounted for 45.53, 37.5 and 16.96% of all species present there. Most DBH were in the 6–10 cm class. A. raddiana was the main species in most diameter classes. Most trees were 4.1–5.0 m tall and A. raddiana predominated in this height class. Acacia ehrenbergiana had 92.63% damaged seeds. At Al Duwadmi, A. raddiana represented 78.99% of all Acacia trees there. A. gerrardii and A. tortilis accounted for 11.93 and 9.07% of the species there, respectively. Most of the DBH values were in the 6–10 cm and 11–15 cm classes, and A. tortilis and A. raddiana were abundant in both classes. Most trees were in the 4.1–5 m height class, which was dominated by A. raddiana. A. ehrenbergiana had 88.26% damaged seeds. In both areas, there was a gradual decline in the number of trees in DBH classes > 35 cm. The Acacia species in the two areas showed a fair regeneration status. There were more seedlings than saplings and fewer saplings than trees. This baseline study could contribute towards future sustainability planning initiatives after other assessment studies have been conducted to identify changes in the Acacia woodlands of this region. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers

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“…ORV traffic can alter habitat structure and function through alterations to physiochemical properties of soil, loss of vegetative cover, and changes in plant community structure and function (Slaughter et al, 1990;Navas Romero et al, 2019;Sumanapala and Wolf, 2019), which often results in undesirable consequences for the fauna that inhabit them (Schlacher and Thompson, 2008;Cole, 2019). For instance, soils can be physically damaged through increased compaction, which may alter the success of certain plant species, altering species diversity (Brown and Schoknecht, 2001;Assaeed et al, 2019). While vegetation loss is common with ORV activity (Al-Awadhi, 2013;Cheung et al, 2021), community level responses have also been found, including alterations in species composition and conditions that may favor the introduction and spread of invasive plants (Milchunas et al, 2000;Assaeed et al, 2019;Navas Romero et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Find New RoadsTM? A Systematic Review on the Impacts of Off-Road Vehicle Activity on Soil, Vegetation, and Wildlife

Ploughe

Fraser

2022

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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The global use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) in natural environments has accelerated rapidly over the last few decades, resulting in significant social and environmental consequences. As the demand, use, and promotion of light-duty ORVs like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles, four-wheel drive trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) increases in remote wilderness, the landscape is becoming fragmented into disorganized and destructive networks of trails and roads. Substantial ecological impacts to a wide range of ecosystem structures and functions will likely result from ORV activity. Applying a global systematic review, we examine 105 publications about plant, soil, and wildlife responses to ORV traffic in different habitats to help guide the direction of future research, monitoring programs, and mitigation efforts. Most studies investigated impacts to animals, followed by soils, then vegetative responses. Soil studies primarily focused on physical impacts to the soil (i.e., compaction, erosion, rut depth), but some studies suggest that soil chemical and biological properties may also be impacted by ORV traffic. The literature on plant responses to ORV activities primarily explored vegetation loss, although impacts on the plant community were also investigated. Animal studies investigated impacts of ORV use on invertebrates, mammals, birds, and to a lesser extent reptiles/amphibians, including population-level, community-level, and behavioral responses. Overall, research on environmental impacts of ORV traffic is biased to coastal and desert ecosystems in the northern hemisphere (primarily in the US), often does not address mechanisms that may produce ecological impacts (e.g., intensity of vehicular disturbance and ecosystem- or species-specific sensitivity to ORV activities), and frequently focused on short-term responses. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms that cause the different responses of soil, plant, and animals to ORVs over the long-term in a broad range of ecosystems to support real-time management and conservation efforts.

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Impact of off-road vehicles on soil and vegetation in a desert rangeland in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 24 publications

References 59 publications

Soil Bacterial Community Structure in Turfy Swamp and Its Response to Highway Disturbance

Soil Bacterial Community Structure in Turfy Swamp and Its Response to Highway Disturbance

Existing Status of Acacia Woodlands in Central Saudi Arabia: A Case Study in Hawtat Bani Tamim and Al Duwadmi

Find New RoadsTM? A Systematic Review on the Impacts of Off-Road Vehicle Activity on Soil, Vegetation, and Wildlife

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