RESEARCH/REVIEW ARTICLE Trampling on maritime Antarctica: can soil ecosystems be effectively protected through existing codes of conduct? Pablo Tejedo,1 Luis R. Pertierra,1 Javier Benayas,1 Peter Convey,2 Ana Justel3 & Antonio Quesada4 1 Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´ noma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, Madrid, ES-28049, Spain 2 British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK 3 Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´ noma de Madrid, C/ Francisco Toma´ s y Valiente 7, Madrid, ES-28049, Spain 4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´ noma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, Madrid, ES-28049, Spain Keywords Abstract Trampling impacts; environmental monitoring; low impact practices; soil Soil trampling is one of the most obvious direct negative human impacts resilience; soil penetration resistance; in Antarctica. Through a range of experiments and field studies based on collembolan abundance. quantitative physical (soil penetration resistance) and biological (collembolan abundance) indicators, we evaluate the current codes of conduct relating to Correspondence the protection of Antarctic soils from the consequences of pedestrian impacts. Pablo Tejedo, Department of Ecology, These guidelines include using, where available, established paths that cross Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Auto´ noma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, Madrid, ES-28049, vegetation-free soils. However, the effectiveness of this strategy is highly Spain. dependent on context. Limited intensity use*below 100 foot passes per year* E-mail:
[email protected] produces small changes at the soil surface that can recover relatively rapidly, suggesting that the dispersal of activity across wider corridors may be the most appropriate option.