Impacts of Off-Highway Vehicle Activity on Land Cover Change and Dune Dynamics: Algodones Dunes, California
A decreasing trend in Normalized Difference Vegetation Index over time indicates a decline in the amount of vegetation cover, which corresponds with an increasing trend in albedo and land surface temperature. Results also show a substantial difference in land cover between the control site and OHVs areas, which typically have a lower amount of vegetation cover, higher exposed sand surface, and increased anthropogenic features. Both climatic variations and OHV activity are statistically associated with land cover change in the dune field, although distinct causal mechanisms for the observed declines in vegetation cover could not be separated. The persistence of drought could inhibit vegetation growth and germination that, in turn, would hinder vegetation recovery in OHV areas. Meanwhile, repeated OHV driving has direct physical impacts on vegetation and landscape morphology, such as canopy destruction, root exposure, and increased aeolian sand transport. Active ecosystem protection and restoration is recommended to mitigate the response of declining vegetation cover and habitat loss to the impacts of OHV activity and climatic variability and allow natural recovery of re-establishement of nebkha dune ecosystems in the Algodones Dunes.]]>autCheung, Suet YithsWalker, Ian JdgcMyint, Soe WdgcDorn, Ronald I.pblArizona State UniversityengMasters Thesis Geography 2018https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.5166000Masters ThesisAcademic theses135 pages115490261721630032421156885systemIn Copyright2018TextgeomorphologyEnvironmental ManagementGeographyLand Cover ChangeLand degradationOff-highway vehiclesRecreational activitySand dune complexes