Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems

Thomas A. Schlacher; Michael A. Weston; Shane Orchard; Brendan P. Kelaher; Brooke Maslo; Jenifer E. Dugan; David M. Hubbard; Leonardo Costa; Melanie J. Bishop; Kristal N. Kostoglu; Ben L. Gilby; Christofer J. Henderson; Teresa Amaro; Serena Lucrezi; Christian Crosby; Michael Elliott; Kyle A. Emery; Fanini Lucia; Patrick A. Hesp; Howard Kirsty; Glenn A. Hyndes; Mariano Lastra; Adrian B. Mccallum; Bhavani E. Narayanaswamy; Stuart E. Parsons; Ashley A. Rowden; Natalie Sanderson; Aaron N. Wiegand

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038

Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems

Thomas A. Schlacher, Michael A. Weston, Shane Orchard, Brendan P. Kelaher, Brooke Maslo, Jenifer E. Dugan, David M. Hubbard, Leonardo Costa, Melanie J. Bishop, Kristal N. Kostoglu, Ben L. Gilby, Christofer J. Henderson, Teresa Amaro, Serena Lucrezi, Christian Crosby, Michael Elliott, Kyle A. Emery, Fanini Lucia, Patrick A. Hesp, Howard KirstyGlenn A. Hyndes, Mariano Lastra, Adrian B. Mccallum, Bhavani E. Narayanaswamy, Stuart E. Parsons, Ashley A. Rowden, Natalie Sanderson, Aaron N. Wiegand

SAMS UHI

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

1
Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including ‘nature and wilderness experiences’. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.
2
Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.
3
The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 gene

Original language	English
Article number	109038
Journal	Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Volume	312
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2025

Keywords

sandy beaches
vehicle impacts
Recreation management
dune conservation
management
beach
meta-analysis
traffic emission
vegetation
vehicle component

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0272771424004268

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Licence: CC BY-NC-ND
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Cite this

Schlacher, T. A., Weston, M. A., Orchard, S., Kelaher, B. P., Maslo, B., Dugan, J. E., Hubbard, D. M., Costa, L., Bishop, M. J., Kostoglu, K. N., Gilby, B. L., Henderson, C. J., Amaro, T., Lucrezi, S., Crosby, C., Elliott, M., Emery, K. A., Lucia, F., Hesp, P. A., ... Wiegand, A. N. (2025). Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 312, Article 109038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038

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title = "Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems",

abstract = "1Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including {\textquoteleft}nature and wilderness experiences{\textquoteright}. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.2Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.3The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 gene",

keywords = "sandy beaches, vehicle impacts, Recreation management, dune conservation, management, beach, meta-analysis, traffic emission, vegetation, vehicle component",

author = "Schlacher, {Thomas A.} and Weston, {Michael A.} and Shane Orchard and Kelaher, {Brendan P.} and Brooke Maslo and Dugan, {Jenifer E.} and Hubbard, {David M.} and Leonardo Costa and Bishop, {Melanie J.} and Kostoglu, {Kristal N.} and Gilby, {Ben L.} and Henderson, {Christofer J.} and Teresa Amaro and Serena Lucrezi and Christian Crosby and Michael Elliott and Emery, {Kyle A.} and Fanini Lucia and Hesp, {Patrick A.} and Howard Kirsty and Hyndes, {Glenn A.} and Mariano Lastra and Mccallum, {Adrian B.} and Narayanaswamy, {Bhavani E.} and Parsons, {Stuart E.} and Rowden, {Ashley A.} and Natalie Sanderson and Wiegand, {Aaron N.}",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038",

language = "English",

volume = "312",

journal = "Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science",

issn = "0272-7714",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

}

Schlacher, TA, Weston, MA, Orchard, S, Kelaher, BP, Maslo, B, Dugan, JE, Hubbard, DM, Costa, L, Bishop, MJ, Kostoglu, KN, Gilby, BL, Henderson, CJ, Amaro, T, Lucrezi, S, Crosby, C, Elliott, M, Emery, KA, Lucia, F, Hesp, PA, Kirsty, H, Hyndes, GA, Lastra, M, Mccallum, AB, Narayanaswamy, BE, Parsons, SE, Rowden, AA, Sanderson, N & Wiegand, AN 2025, 'Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 312, 109038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038

Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems. / Schlacher, Thomas A.; Weston, Michael A.; Orchard, Shane et al.
In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol. 312, 109038, 01.01.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems

AU - Schlacher, Thomas A.

AU - Weston, Michael A.

AU - Orchard, Shane

AU - Kelaher, Brendan P.

AU - Maslo, Brooke

AU - Dugan, Jenifer E.

AU - Hubbard, David M.

AU - Costa, Leonardo

AU - Bishop, Melanie J.

AU - Kostoglu, Kristal N.

AU - Gilby, Ben L.

AU - Henderson, Christofer J.

AU - Amaro, Teresa

AU - Lucrezi, Serena

AU - Crosby, Christian

AU - Elliott, Michael

AU - Emery, Kyle A.

AU - Lucia, Fanini

AU - Hesp, Patrick A.

AU - Kirsty, Howard

AU - Hyndes, Glenn A.

AU - Lastra, Mariano

AU - Mccallum, Adrian B.

AU - Narayanaswamy, Bhavani E.

AU - Parsons, Stuart E.

AU - Rowden, Ashley A.

AU - Sanderson, Natalie

AU - Wiegand, Aaron N.

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - 1Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including ‘nature and wilderness experiences’. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.2Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.3The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 gene

AB - 1Ocean shores are among the most spectacular and sought-after sites for leisure activities, including ‘nature and wilderness experiences’. Some of these activities can involve the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven across extensive stretches of sandy coastlines. Yet, this recreation mode can be controversial because of environmental, cultural, social, and ethical concerns. However, ORV users often question the putative impacts, especially the ecological aspects.2Here, we review the available published data about the ecological impacts of vehicles on coastal plants. We focus on vegetation because of its critical role in coastal resilience and its foundational role in the structure and function of dune-beach systems. The principal type of evidence is a formal meta-analysis of effect sizes that can be unambiguously linked to ORV use.3The evidence of serious ecological harm caused by ORVs to plants of beach-dune habitats is geographically widespread, extensive in taxonomic coverage (253 species, 174 gene

KW - sandy beaches

KW - vehicle impacts

KW - Recreation management

KW - dune conservation

KW - management

KW - beach

KW - meta-analysis

KW - traffic emission

KW - vegetation

KW - vehicle component

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038

DO - 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109038

M3 - Article

SN - 0272-7714

VL - 312

JO - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

JF - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

M1 - 109038

ER -

Adverse impacts of off-road vehicles on coastal dune vegetation are widespread, substantial, and long-lasting: Evidence from a global meta-analysis of sandy beach-dune systems

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Embargoed Document

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