Mountain bike riding and hiking can contribute to the dispersal of weed seeds

Mountain biking and hiking are popular, but both recreational activities can contribute to the unintentional dispersal of seeds including non-native plants that cause environmental harm (e.g. environmental weeds). Addressing the requirement for more information about the ecological impacts of recreational activities, seed dispersal from mountain biking and hiking were compared under different climatic and environmental conditions. Seeds from a range of graminids and forbs were found to attach to the mountain bike, rider and hiker, including environmental weed seeds, on trails and in-field in montane Australia. While the composition of seeds differed between the two activities, no significant differences were found between traits, such as natives or environmental weed, graminids or forbs, perennial or annual, large or small, attachment or no attachment structures, although sample sizes were small. Few seeds attached to the mountain bike, rider or hiker on dry trails, some seeds attached when trails were wet, but more seeds attached when riding/hiking off trail in a field. Cleaning clothing and bikes and avoiding areas with environmental weed seeding could reduce the risk of this type of unintentional human mediated dispersal, but compliance with such measures may be challenging. Given the increasing popularity of mountain biking and the current controversy about the relative impacts of mountain biking in areas of high conservation concern, additional research assessing severity, duration and range of impacts of mountain biking on soil, wildlife, waterways and vegetation is critical.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115693
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147972201266X
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03014797
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Pickering, Catherine
  • 0000-0002-3731-5407
• Publication Date: 2022-10-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 115693
• Serial:
  • Journal of Environmental Management
  • Volume: 319
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0301-4797
  • EISSN: 1095-8630
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03014797

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bicycling; Environmental impacts; Outdoor recreation; Seeding; Walking; Weeds
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Environment; Pedestrians and Bicyclists;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01870068
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 19 2023 11:23AM