Long Term Research in Environmental Biology: Demographic census data for thirty natural populations of American Ginseng: 1998-2016

In 1998, formal demographic censusing of wild ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) populations was initiated in West Virginia. By 2004, thirty populations had been added to the census effort, spanning seven states (IN-2, KY-6, MD-1, NY-2, PA-2, VA-5, WV-12) and a wide variety of land use histories and eastern deciduous forest communities. The censusing effort continued without interruption at all populations until June, 2016. Annually, each population was visited twice. The first visit generally occurred between late May and the end of June. The second visit generally occurred in the first three weeks of August. The purpose of the spring census was to assess the population status at the time of year when the largest number of individuals were visible aboveground (post-germination, prior to substantial losses due to browsing and other causes). Detailed measures of plant size were made, with an emphasis on total leaf area calculation. In addition, a variety of plant condition notations were made, with the ultimate goal of determining mortality and recruitment in the population, as well as individual size transitions. The primary purpose of the second census each year was to assess seed production on each plant. In addition, further notations of plant condition were made to assess changes over the growing season. To maintain methodological consistency with field personnel turnover, the lead author participated in fieldwork throughout the study, visiting each population at least once every two years. In addition, after being trained themselves, graduate students trained undergraduate conservation interns to assure consistent methods were used each year. The data are suitable for demographic modeling, and the unique spatial and temporal extent allow the exploration of important questions about variability in population growth and viability of ginseng, America’s premiere wild harvested medicinal plant.1998年，野生西洋参（Panax quinquefolius L.）种群的正式统计普查工作于美国西弗吉尼亚州启动。至2004年，普查覆盖的种群数量增至30个，分布于7个州：印第安纳州（IN）2个、肯塔基州（KY）6个、马里兰州（MD）1个、纽约州（NY）2个、宾夕法尼亚州（PA）2个、弗吉尼亚州（VA）5个、西弗吉尼亚州（WV）12个，涵盖了多样的土地利用历史与东部落叶林群落类型。所有种群的普查工作未曾中断，持续至2016年6月。每年对每个种群开展两次野外调查：首次调查通常在5月下旬至6月末之间进行，第二次调查则一般安排在8月的前三周内。春季普查的核心目标是在全年地上植株可见量最多的时期——即萌发后、因啃食或其他因素导致大量个体损失前——评估种群当前状态。研究人员会对植株尺寸进行详细测量，重点计算其总叶面积；同时记录多项植株健康状况指标，最终旨在明确种群的死亡率、种群补充率以及个体尺寸的动态变化。每年的第二次普查主要用于评估单株植株的种子产量；此外还会补充记录植株健康状况，以分析整个生长季内的动态变化。为保证野外人员更替时研究方法的一致性，首席作者全程参与野外调查工作，每两年至少对每个种群开展一次走访。此外，研究生在完成自身培训后，会进一步培训本科保护实习生，确保每年的调查方法保持统一。本数据集适用于种群动态建模，其独特的空间与时间覆盖范围，为探究美国本土顶级野生药用植物——西洋参的种群增长变异与生存能力相关的重要科学问题提供了支撑。