
NAME:
Theologie - HS 1
BUILDING:
Theologie
FLOOR:
1
TYPE:
Lecture Hall
CAPACITY:
126
ACCESS:
Only Participants
EQUIPMENT:
Beamer, PC, WLAN (Eduroam), Overhead, Blackboard, Handicapped Accessible, LAN, Microphones, Sound System, Speaker Desk
Mountain ecosystems, known for their unique biodiversity and high levels of endemism, are now facing increasing challenges due to global climate change and human use, which can favor the establishment of non-native plants as well as influence species range shifts. While road construction and motorized traffic are commonly recognized as major vectors for the introduction and spread of non-native plants, the role of outdoor recreational activities, particularly hiking, remains less understood. Hiking trails are key conduits for tourism and provide access to higher elevations, often areas less impacted by plant invasions. Our study aims to investigate the abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic drivers of non-native plant species distribution along hiking trails, assessing their potential to facilitate the spread of non-native plants into pristine areas and higher elevations. We conducted a multi-regional analysis across nine mountain regions on six continents, employing a standardized sampling design with T-shaped sample sites extending both parallel and perpendicular to trails. Our results show that, at the global scale, abiotic (climatic) factors were the most significant drivers of non-native species presence and richness, while biotic factors were more important for species cover. Although our results showed that anthropogenic factors played a relatively minor role in shaping species distributions compared to previously documented road-based invasions, we found that non-native species were not confined to trail edges, suggesting that off-trail movements by hikers and domestic animals may contribute to the spread of these species into undisturbed environments. These findings highlight the need to consider the broader impacts of hiking and off-trail activities on non-native plant invasions and their potential to influence species range shifts as has been observed previously by roads.
