Plant community data near and away from trails in the Castle Provincial Parks

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.