Description:	These data were collected as part of an MSc project to assess the effect of roads and trails in Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park on plant communities. The research also tested a species distribution model for the genus Botrychium. They include the presence and estimated abundance of vascular plant species in (a) 1 x 1m quadrats along 10m transects extending outwards from trails or roads, (b) 1 x 1m quadrats along 10m transects in control sites at least 100m from any trail or road, and (c) 50 x 50m plots at least 100m from any trail or road. The data were collected for two purposes: (1) to assess the magnitude and extent of trail effects on plant communities, and (2) to assess the ability of a species distribution model (SDM) to predict habitat suitability for Botrychium spp. (moonworts). We found that species richness increases closer to trails and community composition is significantly different near trails, with a greater likelihood of exotic species presence closer to trails. The increased species richness and greater probability of exotic species presence associated with trails extended a greater distance from off-highway vehicle trails than from footpaths, but only in shrubland and mixed forest vegetation. We discovered seven new occurrences of moonworts in 50 x 50m plots at least 100 m from trails. Six of the seven new occurrences were growing at sites with greater than 40% predicted suitability, but the SDM was not a significant predictor of moonwort occurrences according to our statistical tests.
Notes:	Chisholm, T., & McCune, J.L. (2024) Habitat characteristics of Botrychium species in the Castle Region, Alberta, Canada. Western North American Naturalist, in press. (no doi yet).
Authors:	McCune, Jenny L.; University of Lethbridge; 0000-0003-0546-1781 Chisholm, Trinitas E.; University of Lethbridge; 0009-0002-6883-8873
Keywords:	recreation trails plant community exotic plants community composition rare plants Botrychium moonworts species distribution model
Field of Research:	Biological sciences > Ecology (except applications) > Community ecology (except invasive species ecology)
Publication Date:	2024-03-04
Publisher:	Federated Research Data Repository / dépôt fédéré de données de recherche
Funder:	Alberta Conservation Association; Testing the effects of recreational trails on plant communities, rare plants, and the spread of invasive plant species; 015-00-90-282
URI:	https://doi.org/10.20383/103.0665
Related Identifiers:	This dataset is cited by https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119817 This dataset is a supplement to https://www.proquest.com/docview/2778519679?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Dissertations%20&%20Theses
Geographic Coverage:	Place Name Castle Provincial Park Province / Province / Territory Alberta Territory   Country Canada Place Name Castle Wildland Provincial Park Province / Province / Territory Alberta Territory   Country Canada