Beach disturbance caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy shores: Relationship with traffic volumes and a new method to quantify impacts using image-based data acquisition and analysis

Thomas Schlacher; Jennifer M Morrison

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.06.008

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Beach disturbance caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy shores: Relationship with traffic volumes and a new method to quantify impacts using image-based data acquisition and analysis

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Beach disturbance caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy shores: Relationship with traffic volumes and a new method to quantify impacts using image-based data acquisition and analysis

Thomas Schlacher and Jennifer M Morrison

Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol.56(9), pp.1646-1649

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.06.008

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Abstract

sandy beaches

recreation

environmental impacts

image analysis

monitoring

Vehicles cause environmental damage on sandy beaches, including physical displacement and compaction of the sediment. Such physical habitat disturbance provides a relatively simple indicator of ORV-related impacts that is potentially useful in monitoring the efficacy of beach traffic management interventions; such interventions also require data on the relationship between traffic volumes and the resulting levels of impact. Here we determined how the extent of beach disturbance is linked to traffic volumes and tested the utility of image-based data acquisition to monitor beach surfaces. Experimental traffic application resulted in disturbance effects ranging from 15% of the intertidal zone being rutted after 10 vehicle passes to 85% after 100 passes. A new camera platform, specifically designed for beach surveys, was field tested and the resulting image-based data compared with traditional line-intercept methods and in situ measurements using quadrats. All techniques gave similar results in terms of quantifying the relationship between traffic intensity and beach disturbance. However, the physical, in situ measurements, using quadrats, generally produced higher (+4.68%) estimates than photos taken with the camera platform coupled with off-site image analysis. Image-based methods can be more costly, but in politically and socially sensitive monitoring applications, such as ORV use on sandy beaches, they are superior in providing unbiased and permanent records of environmental conditions in relation to anthropogenic pressures.

Details

Title: Beach disturbance caused by off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy shores: Relationship with traffic volumes and a new method to quantify impacts using image-based data acquisition and analysis
Authors: Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Jennifer M Morrison (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Publication details: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol.56(9), pp.1646-1649
Publisher: Pergamon
Date published: 2008
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.06.008
ISSN: 0025-326X
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449863402621
Output Type: Journal article

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