Researcher effects on the biological structure and edaphic conditions of field sites and implications for management

Field studies are necessary for understanding natural processes in spite of the human‐induced disturbances they cause. While researchers acknowledge these effects, no studies have empirically tested the direct (e.g., harvesting plants) and indirect (i.e., trampling) effects of researcher activities...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecosphere (Washington, D.C) D.C), 2024-01, Vol.15 (1), p.n/a
Main Authors: Rinehart, Shelby A., Dybiec, Jacob M., Richardson, Parker, Walker, Janet B., Peabody, James D., Cherry, Julia A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alabama
Arthropods
California
Crustaceans
disturbance
ecological memory
Ecosystems
Environmental impact
experimental design
Field study
Habitats
manipulative studies
Researchers
Sediments
Soil erosion
species abundance
sustainable science
tidal marsh
Trampling
wetland management
Wetlands
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Summary:Field studies are necessary for understanding natural processes in spite of the human‐induced disturbances they cause. While researchers acknowledge these effects, no studies have empirically tested the direct (e.g., harvesting plants) and indirect (i.e., trampling) effects of researcher activities on biological structure and edaphic conditions. We leveraged field studies in Alabama and California to monitor the recovery of tidal marshes following research activities. Researcher effects on animals, plants, and sediment conditions remained prevalent almost one year after the disturbance ended. For instance, trampled plots had 14%–97% lower plant cover than undisturbed plots after >10 months of recovery. Researcher effects also impacted plant composition, leading to increased subordinate species abundance. We encourage field researchers to adopt strategies that reduce their scientific footprints, including reducing field visits, limiting field team size, and considering ways to limit potential environmental impacts during study design.
ISSN:2150-8925
2150-8925
DOI:10.1002/ecs2.4750