The importance of invertebrates in assessing the ecological impacts of hiking trails: A review of its role as indicators and recommendations for future research

Abstract

Hiking is a natural exercise that has become one the most popular outdoor activities, promoting physical fitness and de-stress without large investments or special equipment. However, hiking has downsides, particularly in the areas in which it takes place. From soil compaction and erosion to disturbance and ecological impacts, mounting evidence shows that it is far from innocuous to ecosystems. Despite spanning several decades, research on the impacts of hiking on ecosystems and particularly on the pertinence of using ecological indicators is still scarce. This work reviews the published information conducted with invertebrates and, by doing so, offers insights to guide not only management actions but also further investigation in this scope. We address some of the current knowledge gaps and provide recommendations by focusing on ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) for their sensitivity to disturbance, representativeness but also due to their taxonomic and functional diversity. Due to the limited number of studies published so far, the classification of species based on their habitat preference, within the context of trail impacts, is non-consensual. Alternatively, such classification should derive from its respective study and avoid being generalized, or done with great caution. Additionally, sampling methods that distinguish mortality from behavioural changes were considered crucial to determine possible effects. Ultimately, the joint use of both vegetation and invertebrates, particularly ground beetles, was considered relevant to assess hiking trail ecological impacts.

Keywords

• Hiking trail impacts
• Recreational ecosystem services
• Ecological effects
• Evidence-based systematic literature review
• Vegetation
• Ground beetles