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Home / Equine Research Bank / Environ Manage / Hooves on the Beach; Horses Disrupt the Sand Matrix and Migh...
Environmental management2021; 67(2); 398-411; doi: 10.1007/s00267-020-01409-y

Hooves on the Beach; Horses Disrupt the Sand Matrix and Might Alter Invertebrate Assemblages on Beaches.

Abstract: Beaches are under increasing pressure from a wide range of anthropogenic threats, including human trampling, vehicular crushing, and horse riding/training. The impacts of horses on beaches are unknown. We index the relative abundance, diversity and assemblage composition of beach invertebrates at paired sites with and without horses at nine beaches (locations) across Victoria, Australia. Horses were more common at sites where they were allowed and sites (horse versus no horse) within beaches were well matched, having similar slope, seaweed coverage, human and dog activity-attributes which varied among locations. At sites with horse activity, there was less sand compaction in the upper beach (above the previous high tide) suggesting horses disrupt (i.e. mobilise) the sand matrix there. While invertebrates sampled by pitfall traps did not differ in richness or abundance between horse and no horse sites, the assemblage composition differed between horse/no horse sites, at seven of nine locations. Core samples revealed no differences in assemblages, but a greater richness of invertebrates at sites without horses, and a general but not universal pattern for a greater abundance of invertebrates at sites without horses. This study shows that horses disrupt the sand matrix on beaches and might alter assemblage structures of surface invertebrates, and richness and abundance of burrowing invertebrates, at many beaches. The extent to which this alteration compromises the function of sandy shore food webs should be the subject of further, experimental study.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-18 PubMed ID: 33459862DOI: 10.1007/s00267-020-01409-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research, focused on the effects of horse activity on beaches in Victoria, Australia, suggests that horse presence may disrupt sand composition and possibly alter the composition and abundance of invertebrates on beaches.

Objective of the Study

  • The main objective of the study was to understand the impact of horse activity on beach invertebrates. Therefore, the researchers compared the abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition of beach invertebrates at select sites with and without horse presence.

Methodology

  • The researchers observed nine beaches across Victoria, Australia, where horses were more common at sites where they were allowed. These sites had similar slope, seaweed coverage, human and dog activity to sites without horses.
  • They collected samples using pitfall traps and core samples to assess the abundance and richness of invertebrates.

Findings

  • The researchers found that there was less sand compaction in areas of horse activity. This suggested that horses disrupted the sand matrix in these locations.
  • While there was no major difference in richness or abundance of invertebrates captured by pitfall traps between horse and no-horse sites, they noticed a difference in assemblage composition at seven out of nine locations.
  • Core samples revealed greater richness and a general but not universal pattern for a greater abundance of invertebrates at sites without horses. This suggests that horse presence might alter the structure of surface invertebrates and the richness and abundance of burrowing invertebrates at many beaches.
  • However, the extent to which horse activity affects the function of sandy shore food webs was not assessed and is recommended for future studies.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that horse activity on beaches could potentially disrupt the sand matrix and influence the assemblage structures of invertebrates on those beaches.
  • The research calls for further experimental studies to fully understand the extent of these alterations on the function of sandy shore food webs.

Cite This Article

APA
Evans-Clay M, Porch N, Maguire G, Weston MA. (2021). Hooves on the Beach; Horses Disrupt the Sand Matrix and Might Alter Invertebrate Assemblages on Beaches. Environ Manage, 67(2), 398-411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01409-y

Publication

Environmental management
ISSN: 1432-1009
NlmUniqueID: 7703893
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 67
Issue: 2
Pages: 398-411

Researcher Affiliations

Evans-Clay, Madison
  • Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
  • School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, Deakin, VIC, Australia.
Porch, Nick
  • Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
  • School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, Deakin, VIC, Australia.
Maguire, Grainne
  • BirdLife Australia, Suite 2-05, The Green Building, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia.
Weston, Michael A
  • Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. mweston@deakin.edu.au.
  • School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, Deakin, VIC, Australia. mweston@deakin.edu.au.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bathing Beaches
  • Dogs
  • Ecosystem
  • Hoof and Claw
  • Horses
  • Invertebrates
  • Sand
  • Victoria

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