Disentangling, again, the drivers of population decline for two harvested species: a response to Prasad et al.

1.Ticktin et al. (2012) (Journal of Applied Ecology, 49, 774) assessed the dynamics of two

Indian tree species (Phyllanthus emblica and P. indofischeri) and showed that although fruit

harvest can decrease long-term populati on growth rates (k), the principal drivers of decline

are mistletoe infes tation and invasion of an exotic shrub. Prasad et al. (2014) (Journal of

Applied Ecology, 51, doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12170) questioned Ticktin et al.’s approach,

showed that P. emblica k values increased when fruit harvest was banned and concluded that

fruit harvest has a significant negative effect. We demonstrate that Prasad et al.’s analysis is

fundamentally flawed and that our conclusions hold firm.

2. We clarify that our models are built from empirical data collected from field plots. We use

life table response experiments to demonstrate that the increase in P. emblica ks after the frui t

harvest ban is due to higher adult survival and unrelated to fruit harvest. P. indofischeri

populations show no such increase.

3. We demonst rate that our results and the literature strongly back up our management rec-

ommendations to control mistletoe and the invasive shrub, and protect amla saplings.

4. Synthesis and applications . Prasad et al. (2014) confound the effe cts of time and treatment

and therefore reach erroneous conclusions. This highlights the importance of carefu l analyses

to disentangle the effects of multiple drivers of decline for species at risk.