The impact of vehicles on dune and grassland vegetation on a south-eastern North Carolina barrier beach.
Abstract
Two barrier beaches in southeastern North Carolina were compared with respect to vegetation patterns and soil compaction. One had been widely used by off-road vehicles and the other had not. The vegetation cover and the number of species present on both dunes and grassland were fewer on the area that had been subjected to vehicular traffic. The soil was more compact at 5 and 15 cm depth, but not at the surface, where vehicular traffic had been most intense.