PS 3-45 - Ethics in the field: Researcher impacts on environmental processes and proposed best practices.

Abstract: Field studies are essential for understanding ecological processes in nature. However, they often require researchers to disturb animal communities, collect plant biomass, and trample soils and sediments. Despite the general awareness that such activities can negatively impact the environment, there have been few attempts to document the effects of researchers and research activities on the biological structure and sediment properties of field sites. Here, we used a combination of field studies and a qualitative survey of ecologists to 1) document the impacts of field manipulations (e.g., plant harvesting) and researcher trampling on the biological structure and sediment properties of coastal wetlands in Alabama and southern California and 2) compile a set of best practices for minimizing researcher impacts on the environment, respectively.

Field researcher effects on animal density, plant cover, plant community composition, and sediment compaction were evident over one-year following the conclusion of the original field study at all sites. Specifically, plant cover was >50% lower in previously harvested plots and >90% lower in previously trampled plots than in undisturbed plots in both Alabama and southern California. The composition of the plant community in harvested and trampled plots also shifted to include a greater proportion of the local subordinate species (e.g., Distichlis spicata in Alabama, Salicornia spp. in southern California). Our qualitative survey suggested that many field ecologists are aware of the impacts their work can have on the environment, but few have directly implemented strategies to minimize their effects. We suggest that implementing simple strategies, such as avoiding non-essential collections, limiting habitat trampling, and encouraging greater data/sample sharing, may help reduce the impacts of research on vulnerable ecosystems. Overall, our goal is to raise awareness of the ecological impacts of our collective research efforts and motivate the community to develop a broadly accepted set of best practices for ethical and sustainable field ecology.