Harvest effects on density and biomass of Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora vary along environmental gradients in the Nepalese Himalayas.

ABSTRACT: A surprisingly large number of species potentially threatened by human harvest lack quantitative ecological studies incorporating harvest effects, especially clonal species in the alpine Himalayas. We studied density and biomass variation of a threatened medicinal herb, Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora, to examine the effect of harvest on plant performance. The study covered two regions with contrasting harvest situations-one with open-access and another protected from commercial harvesting. Four populations from each region were compared along an elevation gradient (3,800-4,800 m). Also, we conducted in situ interviews with 165 and 38 medicinal and aromatic plant users in open-access and protected regions, respectively, to assess the collection and use patterns of the target species

SUBMITTER: Poudeyal MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6635918 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature