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. Horse impacts on beaches are poorly known. We compare ecologically matched sites with and without horses. Horses disrupted the sand matrix. Horse sites often had different assemblages of surface-active invertebrates. Infauna was less abundant and rich at sites with horses. Horses, like other agents of trampling, might alter invertebrate fauna on beaches. Horse impacts on beaches are poorly known. We compare ecologically matched sites with and without horses. Horses disrupted the sand matrix. Horse sites often had different assemblages of surface-active invertebrates. Infauna was less abundant and rich at sites with horses. Horses, like other agents of trampling, might alter invertebrate fauna on beaches.

中文翻译：

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海滩上的蹄子；马破坏沙矩阵并可能改变海滩上的无脊椎动物组合

海滩正承受着来自各种人为威胁的越来越大的压力，包括人类践踏、车辆碾压和骑马/训练。马对海滩的影响尚不清楚。我们索引了澳大利亚维多利亚州九个海滩（地点）在有马和没有马的配对地点的海滩无脊椎动物的相对丰度、多样性和组合组成。马在被允许的地点更常见，海滩内的地点（马与马）匹配良好，具有相似的坡度、海藻覆盖率、人和狗的活动——属性因地点而异。在有马活动的地点，上海滩（前一次高潮以上）的沙子压实较少，这表明马会破坏（即动员）那里的沙子基质。虽然陷阱陷阱采样的无脊椎动物在有马和没有马的地点之间的丰富度或丰度没有差异，但在九个地点中的七个地点，有马/无马地点的组合组成有所不同。核心样本显示在组合上没有差异，但在没有马的地点无脊椎动物的丰富度更高，并且在没有马的地点无脊椎动物的丰富度更高，这是一个普遍但不普遍的模式。这项研究表明，马破坏了海滩上的沙质基质，并可能改变许多海滩表面无脊椎动物的组合结构以及穴居无脊椎动物的丰富度和丰度。这种改变在多大程度上损害了沙滩食物网的功能，应该是进一步的实验研究的主题。马对海滩的影响鲜为人知。我们比较了有马和没有马的生态匹配站点。马扰乱了沙矩阵。马的地点通常有不同的表面活性无脊椎动物组合。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。马对海滩的影响鲜为人知。我们比较了有马和没有马的生态匹配站点。马扰乱了沙矩阵。马的地点通常有不同的表面活性无脊椎动物组合。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。马对海滩的影响鲜为人知。我们比较了有马和没有马的生态匹配站点。马扰乱了沙矩阵。马的地点通常有不同的表面活性无脊椎动物组合。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。马对海滩的影响鲜为人知。我们比较了有马和没有马的生态匹配站点。马扰乱了沙矩阵。马的地点通常有不同的表面活性无脊椎动物组合。Infauna 在有马的地方不那么丰富和丰富。马，像其他践踏代理人一样，可能会改变海滩上的无脊椎动物群。