Effects of Off-Road Vehicles on the Biota of the Algodones Dunes, Imperial County, California
Luckenbach RA and Bury RB. 1983. Effects of Off-Road Vehicles on the Biota of the Algodones Dunes, Imperial County, California. Journal of Applied Ecology. 20(1):265-286
This article presents the results of a study conducted to assess the effects of off-road vehicle (ORV) use on the biota of the Algodones Dunes located in Imperial County, southeastern California. The study area was located across the northern part of the dunes and adjacent to Highway 78. Six set of paired plots (ORV usage, and no ORV usage) were established. Data was collected on vegetative cover and density, mean number of rodent and lizard species, mean number of rodents and lizards collected and tail-loss frequency among lizards in relation to ORV use. To determine the presence and relative activity of both diurnal and nocturnal animals, track counts were made on cleanly swept bands of sand. The authors found a clear relation between the number of small vertebrates and the density and coverage of perennial vegetation. Additional findings show that even limited ORV use greatly reduces the cover of annual and perennial vegetation, the number of kangaroo rats and fringe-toed lizards, and based on observations obtained from tracks, a reduction in the number of arthropods in ORV-used areas.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Luckenbach, Roger; Bury, R
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Imperial Sand Hills, Research, Sampling, Sand Dunes, Taxa Links To References