Western Kentucky University
Conserving Ecological Systems: Study 1: Ecology of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) at Mammoth Cave National Park
Institution
Western Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Albert Meier; Danielle Racke; Larry Johnson
Abstract
Wild ginseng (Panax spp.) is a highly sought herb, containing proteins that have been shown to improve psychological, physical, and immune performance. The plants take 4-6 years to reach maturity and are then harvested for their roots. In North America, wild populations of Panax quinquifolius are rapidly declining due to overharvesting, poaching, over-grazing, canopy manipulation, and too-frequent fire activity. Given the wide array of medicinal uses, it is critical to locate and conserve remaining wild populations. Our goals in this collaboration are to 1) describe population dynamics of ginseng at Mammoth Cave National Park, 2) identify characters that predict reproductive output, 3) characterize those individuals most crucial to population growth, and 4) develop a predictive model of habitats where P. quinquifolius may either be found or successfully reintroduced to the Park. To this end, we monitored two populations of P. quinquifolius at Mammoth Cave National Park from 2001-2005. In 2009, we began an exhaustive field search at MCNP to locate additional independent viable populations of American ginseng. Here we present analyses of our monitoring data as well as a preliminary analysis of favorable habitat in the Park.
Conserving Ecological Systems: Study 1: Ecology of American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) at Mammoth Cave National Park
Wild ginseng (Panax spp.) is a highly sought herb, containing proteins that have been shown to improve psychological, physical, and immune performance. The plants take 4-6 years to reach maturity and are then harvested for their roots. In North America, wild populations of Panax quinquifolius are rapidly declining due to overharvesting, poaching, over-grazing, canopy manipulation, and too-frequent fire activity. Given the wide array of medicinal uses, it is critical to locate and conserve remaining wild populations. Our goals in this collaboration are to 1) describe population dynamics of ginseng at Mammoth Cave National Park, 2) identify characters that predict reproductive output, 3) characterize those individuals most crucial to population growth, and 4) develop a predictive model of habitats where P. quinquifolius may either be found or successfully reintroduced to the Park. To this end, we monitored two populations of P. quinquifolius at Mammoth Cave National Park from 2001-2005. In 2009, we began an exhaustive field search at MCNP to locate additional independent viable populations of American ginseng. Here we present analyses of our monitoring data as well as a preliminary analysis of favorable habitat in the Park.