Effects of trampling on plant and animal populations on rocky shores

Abstract

Individual footsteps damaged some animals in the SE Australian site, but the percentage of crushed animals was low. Molluscs, except large limpets, were more often dislodged than crushed, and some damage was sustained by barnacles and mussels. Survival of individuals of two gastropod species, Bembicium nanum and Austrocochlea constricta, was not affected by dislodgement, because they quickly righted themselves. The limpet Cellana tramoserica was not damaged by being kicked or stepped on. The dominant plant on these shores, the brown alga Hormosira banksii, was easily damaged, with c20% of the biomass of individual plants being removed by a single footstep. Amount of tissue lost increased wit..