The condition of the mesopedobiont community in Moscow forest parks as an indicator of the recreational load and the formation of impact zones along footpaths

In large Moscow forest parks the characteristics of the mesopedobionts of the natural forests are preserved in the territories that do not undergo direct human impacts. Under the influence of the recreational load the abundance, biomass, and diversity of the soil invertebrates is decreased over distances of 50–100 cm and more from footpaths and the rate of their development defines the level of changes and width of the impact zone. As compared to the properties of the soils, the mesopedobionts are a more sensitive and informative indicator of recreation; when monitoring the effects of this impact the diagnostics of the mesofauna diversity are informative.     

Ecological status of soils and tree plantations of residential landscapes in Moscow

The status of tree vegetation in urban residential landscapes is worse than in natural forest ecosystems. The properties of the topsoil horizons undergo various transformations and the soil quality drops. The range of changes depends on the period of the settlement and the type of the use of the area. The most favorable conditions for plant development and the best ecological status of soils are seen in the regions with the shortest period of human habitation and low direct anthropogenic impact. Considerable degradation of chemical, biological, and physical soil properties in combination with high anthropogenic impact exerts an unfavorable effect on the status of soils and vegetation.     

Changes in the properties of soils of Moscow forest parks under the impact of high recreation loads

The impact of off-road recreation loads with free moving of visitors across the area of forest parks is considered. This type of recreation loads exerts the most pronounced negative impact in soils. Quantitative estimates of changes in the morphological, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils in Moscow parks Bitsevskii and Losinyi Ostrov under the impact of high recreation loads are given. Among the studied soil properties, the most significant changes take place in the soil structure, penetration resistance, and electrical conductivity. Quantitative data on the decrease in the number, biomass, and species diversity of soil mesofauna are also given.     

Dependence of Changes in Soils on Trails and their Impact Zones from a Level of Recreational Impact in Forest Parks in Moscow

Based on a case study of Moscow forest parks Losinyi Ostrov and Bitsevskii Les, the paper presents a quantitative assessment of changes in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils on trails in these parks and in linear trailside (pritropinochnye) zones depending on the recreation load level. It is shown that soil properties differ in their sensitivity to recreation. The widths of impact zones range from 20 to 100 cm from the edges of trails depending on the sensitivity of the soil property, recreation load, and type of biogeocenosis.     

Transformation of Forest Ecosystems in Moscow Megapolis under Recreational Impacts

Eurasian Soil Science - A comprehensive quantitative assessment of the state of vegetation, soil invertebrate complex, litter horizons, and soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Retisols) in Moscow forest...     

Biological Activity of Microbial Communities in Soils of Some Russian Cities

Eurasian Soil Science - Comprehensive studies of soils in some Russian cities (Nadym, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Chelyabinsk, Kursk, and Sochi) were carried out. In relation to natural analogues, the...     

The influence of recreation on the city forest landscape (based on the example of the Losinyi Ostrov National Park, Moscow)

The recreational load on Losinyi Ostrov amenity forest was estimated. It was shown that an increase in the human impact leads to deterioration of the ecological condition of trees and their growing conditions. The changes in soil properties are complex and observed only in the layer of 0–20 cm. To improve the reliability of conclusions about these changes, it is recommended that their weighted average values be used (which take into account the area occupied by the network of footpaths and soil properties on them). The bulk density, electrical conductivity, and pH_water of soils have a considerable impact on the ecological condition of lime trees.