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<DIV class=articleTitle>
<DIV id=publishedOnlineDate><STRONG>Marine Ecology</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>Article first published online: 14 JUN 2011</DIV>
<DIV id=doi>DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2011.00467.x</DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=articleTitle> </DIV>
<DIV class=articleTitle><FONT size=4>Effects of human trampling on macro- and
meiofauna communities associated with intertidal algal turfs and implications
for management of protected areas on rocky shores (Southern
California)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV id=cr1><FONT size=2>Tonya M. Huff, Riverside Community College, Riverside,
CA 92506, USA. E-mail: <!--TODO: clickthrough URL--><A
title="Link to email address" href="mailto:tonya.huff@rcc.edu" shape=rect><FONT
color=#007e8a>tonya.huff@rcc.edu</FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV id=publishedOnlineDate> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>Abstract</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=para>
<P>Human visitation to coastal rocky shore ecosystems has numerous impacts via
activities such as harvesting, rock-turning, pollution, and trampling. Human
trampling, in particular, has been suggested to decrease the density and
diversity of rocky shore organisms, especially large foliose algae. Inconsistent
results have been seen in studies of the effects of human trampling on coralline
algal turfs and the invertebrate communities (macro- and meiofauna) that inhabit
them. Here, a relatively long-term manipulative trampling study based on
realistic levels of human visitation was conducted in intertidal areas off
Southern California dominated by coralline algal turf. Experimentally trampled
plots (‘impact plots’) and control plots protected from foot traffic (‘protected
control plots’) on turf-covered rocky intertidal benches were observed for
17 months in an area closed to human visitation. Control plots were also
established at several other open-access sites (‘open-access control plots’) to
determine whether patterns at the experimentally trampled site resembled those
from sites where human visitation is allowed. Bare space increased in trampled
plots as compared to pre-impact levels, but the percentage of bare rock in
control plots did not change significantly. Trampled plots exhibited shifts in
invertebrate community composition and significant declines in the abundances
and richness of invertebrate taxa as compared to protected control plots
throughout the experiment. Additionally, the trajectory of invertebrate
community change through time in trampled plots was significantly different than
that of both protected and open-access control plots. Nine months after
trampling had ceased, the structure of the invertebrate communities from
trampled plots was similar to protected control plots and bare space had
decreased to pre-impact levels (ANOSIM analysis). However, trampled plots had
significantly more taxa and higher Shannon diversity values than controls. These
results indicate that to manage visitor impacts on rocky shore communities,
‘no-access’ zones may be as important as ‘no-take’ zones. However, the rapid
recovery seen here also indicates that perhaps rotating or seasonal closures
might be an effective management strategy to protect turf
communities.</P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>