Changes of ecological conditions induced by rock tunneling in Laoshan Mountain area

Abstract

Through field investigation, this paper examined the changes of ecological conditions induced by tunnel construction in Laoshan Mountain area, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China. The effects of habitat fragmentation and edge effect are examined and discussed. It is found that the environmental factors and vegetation situation have been influenced by the tunneling activity, and the disturbed area is approaching the sampling patch centre. The changed ecological conditions are beneficial for the settlement and growth of some herb and shrub species, and are unfavorable for the existence and growth of saplings, especially for the predominant species (e.g., robur) in this area. If the time of habitat fragmentation is long enough and there is no supplement from external areas, some vegetation species in the engineering influencing area will deteriorate, or even diminish in the future. The results can be used as a reference for the long-term ecological study in this area.

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