Demographic variation and population viability in a threatened Himalayan medicinal and aromatic herb Nardostachys grandiflora: matrix modelling of harvesting effects in two contrasting habitats

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology 2008-02, Vol.45 (1), p.41-51
• Main Authors: Ghimire, Suresh Kumar, Gimenez, Olivier, Pradel, Roger, McKey, Doyle, Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Yildiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied ecology; Aquatic plants; conservation ecology; Crop harvesting; Demographics; Demography; Ecological research; Editor's Perspective; Environmental Sciences; ethnoecology; Fecundity; grasslands; Growth rate; Habitat conservation; Habitats; Harvest; harvesting; Herbs; Himalaya; Meadows; medicinal plant conservation; Medicinal plants; mountains; Nardostachys; Nardostachys grandiflora; Nepal; NTFP; Outcrops; plant ecology; plant growth; Plant species; Plants; population dynamics; Population ecology; Population growth; Population growth rate; rhizomes; rocks; Seedlings; Sustainable harvest; Sustainable use; threatened species; wild plant collection; wild plants
• ISSN: 0021-8901; 1365-2664
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01375.x

1. Despite significant interest in the sustainable use of medicinal plants, the population ecology of many medicinal plant species remains unstudied. Also, few demographic studies have compared effects of harvesting across habitats. We studied the demography of a highly threatened perennial Himalayan medicinal herb, Nardostachys grandiflora, in two habitats and examined effects of indigenous harvesting regimes on its population dynamics. 2. In a rocky-outcrop population in 1998, different levels of rhizome harvesting were applied directly by the local users. In meadows, we sampled an unharvested population and another population that was commercially harvested. Data on recruitment, growth and survival of individuals classified by size were gathered over 4 years. 3. Population growth rate (λ) was significantly higher in the unharvested meadow population than in control subplots of the outcrop population. Harvesting significantly reduced λ. Matrix model projections revealed that the size of outcrop populations would return to initial values within [almost equal to]5 years, only after 10% rhizome harvesting. In other treatments, recovery time varied from 17 (25% harvesting) to 33 (75%) years. In contrast, in the commercially harvested meadow population (with harvesting levels >25%), projected recovery time was 6 years. 4. Higher growth rates and faster recovery in meadow populations appear to be due to higher recruitment and faster vegetative growth. In outcrops, slow growth and low fecundity slow down recovery after harvesting. 5. Synthesis and application. Nardostachys grandiflora is extremely sensitive to harvesting of rhizomes, but this sensitivity is higher in outcrop than in meadow habitats. Given the constraints on its population growth and its high sensitivity to harvesting, N. grandiflora should be strictly managed, with low harvest rates (