DOI: 10.5061/dryad.g1jwstr0z
title: Climbing route development affects cliff vascular plants more than subsequent climbing: A guide to evidence-based conservation management to regulate climbing

description: Cliff ecosystems provide refuge to 35-66% of the world’s endemic plants.
 However, they face growing threats from sport climbing. Evidence suggests
 that unclimbed cliffs harbor approximately twice the plant richness
 compared to climbed cliffs, with increasing impact as climbing intensity
 increases. Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether the climbing impact
 on cliff vegetation originates from the development (opening) of climbing
 routes or from temporal changes resulting from subsequent climbing. We
 recorded cliff vascular plants and lichens at the protected natural area
 of El Potrero Chico (Mexico) before and after the development of new
 climbing routes. Subsequently, we re-recorded the routes at sequential
 time-points after 10, 20, and 30 ascents. Additionally, we examined
 whether the abundance of cliff vegetation influences the extent of
 climbing impact, and whether the surroundings of the routes were also
 affected. We found that the opening of climbing routes exerted the
 strongest negative effects on cliff plants, reducing species richness by
 38%, while subsequent ascents generated a minimal impact. Worryingly,
 route opening affected not only species richness in the route itself, but
 also the surroundings of the routes. After 30 ascents, cliff plant
 abundance decreased by 60.6% within the bolted routes, whereas it
 decreased by 42.3% in the surroundings. However, this impact depended on
 the original cliff vegetation abundance. Lichen cover showed a gradual
 decrease, indicating that cliff-dwelling lichens are affected not only by
 the opening of the route but also by subsequent ascents. Synthesis and
 applications: Given the almost non-existent regulation of outdoor climbing
 activities in most countries, we urge the implementation of a conservation
 management protocol that defines clear strategies to regulate climbing
 activities and preserve pristine cliffs. On yet unclimbed cliffs with
 narrow endemic, rare, or threatened species, we propose banning the
 establishment of new climbing areas. On climbed cliffs lacking protected
 species, dynamic management actions should be implemented, such as setting
 a maximum number of routes that can be established, and defining Limits of
 Acceptable Change as climbing intensity increases. The proposed
 conservation management should help to halt the loss of unique cliff
 biodiversity and safeguard pristine cliff ecosystems.
description: # Climbing route development affects cliff vascular plants more than
 subsequent climbing: A guide to evidence-based conservation management to
 regulate climbing
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.g1jwstr0z](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.g1jwstr0z) TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Climbing route development affects cliff vascular plants more than subsequent climbing: A guide to evidence-based conservation management to regulate climbing AUTHORS: Morales-Armijo, Felipe; Sobrevilla-Covarrubias, Andrea; Estrada-Castillón , Eduardo; Escudero, Adrián; Scheepens, J.F.; Lorite, Juan; March-Salas, Martí ### DESCRIPTION IN BRIEF OF THE STUDY: Fieldwork study in cliffs of El Potrero Chico (Nueva León, Mexico): assessment of the origin of the impact of climbing activity on cliff ecosystems by temporally comparing the effects originating from the development of the climbing route with those from subsequent climbing ascents. To this end: * First, pristine cliffs were selected to monitor vascular plants and lichens before and after climbing. The pristine cliffs varied in vegetation density (densely versus sparsely vegetated), allowing us to assess whether the abundance of cliff vegetation before route development influenced the climbing impact. * Second, local route developers were asked to establish and bolt new climbing routes on these pristine cliff. * Third, we recorded cliff plants and lichens both before and after new routes were established, and after 10, 20, and 30 ascents. ## Description of the data and file structure ### DATA NAME: "DATA\_Pristine\_Cliffs" Two sheets: one with data on vascular plants; another with data on lichens. Data variables include: **FACTORS/VARIABLES:** * Sector: Climbing sector that was settled in the pristine cliffs. * Subplot: 50 cm by 50 cm subplot in the climbed and unclimbed plot set in the 3 m by 3 m plot. * Specie: Vascular plant species found in the studied cliffs. * Route_name: Name of the climbing route. * Sampling_time (5 factor levels): Moment were the cliffs were monitored (i.e., pre-opening, post-opening, 10 ascents, 20 ascents, and 30 ascents. * Abundance_sector (2 factor levels): High or Low original vegetation in the pristine cliff. * Transect_number: Number of the climbing route. * Climbing_grade: climbing difficulty measured with the Yosemite Decimal System – YDS grades. * Difficulty (4 factor levels; only 3 included in this study): climbing difficulty measured using a quality approach: moderately difficult, difficult, fairly difficult, very difficult. * Total_transect_height: Total height of the climbing route (in meters). * Quadrat_height: Height were the sampling quadrat was placed (in meters). * Cliff_section (3 factor levels): Top, Middle or Bottom section of the route where the quadrat was located. * Climbing_route_zone (2 factor levels): Near or Within the climbing route. * Cracks_cm2 (Covariate): Quantity of cracks in cm2 in the sampled cliff area. * Cracks_porc (Covariate): Quantity of cracks in percentage in the sampled cliff area. REPLICATES: measured of number of clones, number of individuals, plant cover (in cm2 or percentage of cover) at subplot level. *Please note that the species richness was calculated using the variable "Specie". *Also, please note that all this variables were later calculated at plot level. CONTINUOUS VARIABLES: * N_individuos: Number of individuals recorded in the studied cliff area. * N_clones: Number of clones recorded in the studied cliff area. * Plant_cov_cm2: Plant cover measured in cm2. * Plant_cov_porc: Plant cover measured in percentage. *Please note that the species richness was calculated using the variable "Specie". *Also, please note that all this variables were later calculated at plot level. *In the Excel sheet for lichen data, in addition to the described factors/variables, it is included "Lichens_cover_cm2" (lichen cover measured in cm2) "Lichens_cover_porc" (lichen cover measured in percentage). ## Software All statistical analysis were conducted with the R version 4.0.3 (R Development Core Team, 2020). ### Models Linear Mixed-effects Models (LMMs) were implemented in the ‘lme4’ package and the ‘lmer’ function (Bates et al., 2015). Measuring time (five levels: Pre-opening, Post-opening, and 10, 20 and 30 ascents), climbing route zone (two levels: within vs. near the climbing route), original cliff vegetation abundance (two levels: dense vs. scarce), and their two- and three-way interactions were modelled as fixed factors. Plot nested in cliff section and climbing route was included as random factor. In the models concerning vascular plants, the percentage of cracks was used as a covariate to control for the amount of micro-niches available for plant establishment and growth (Holzschuh, 2016).