Treeline ecotone in the Himalayan region is a relevant ecological indicator of environmental perturbations and anthropogenic disturbances. Given this, six representative sites (3 each in protected and non-protected areas) were selected for assessing forest dynamics and anthropogenic disturbances in treeline ecotone in the western Himalaya. The study reveals that treelines under protected areas show higher species richness (27) and species diversity (3.42) compared to species richness (17) and species diversity (2.22) in the non-protected areas. The average TBA of tree species was higher (36) at protected sites compared to 27 in the non-protected sites. Further, the average density of seedlings (7587) and saplings (633) was higher in protected sites than in non-protected sites (seedlings-1720 & 263-saplings). Thus, the better regeneration of dominant tree species with an expanding population structure in the protected area. This showed the efficient role of protected sites in biodiversity conservation and management. Livestock grazing and fuelwood harvesting were the key human-induced pressures in the non-protected sites. Fuelwood consumption was recorded as a maximum (5.4 kg/capita/day) for Kuti village (3800 m) in the Byans Valley, followed by Sipu (3.4) in Darma Valley and a minimum for Martoli (2.4) in Johar Valley. Anthropogenic disturbances have impacted the regeneration and recruitment of tree species in treeline ecotone in the non-protected sites. An increasing number of seedlings and saplings was observed in an open canopy of treeline ecotone, which indicates an expanding number of seedlings and saplings was observed in the open canopy treeline ecotone, which suggests the possibility of expansion of tree species towards higher elevations. Long-term ecological monitoring and observation are suggested to understand better spatial and temporal changes in treeline ecotone considering climate change and anthropogenic disturbances. © 2025 The Author(s)

Ecosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Using random sampling methods, data were gathered from six distinct forest communities. The study identified 271 vascular plants from 208 genera and 74 families. A notable positive correlation (r2 = 0.085, p < 0.05) was observed between total tree density and total tree basal area (TBA), shrub density (r2 = 0.09), tree diversity (D) (r2 = 0.58), shrub diversity (r2 = 0.81), and tree species richness (SR) (r2 = 0.96). Conversely, a negative correlation was found with the concentration of tree dominance (CD) (r2 = 0.43). The Quercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum and Quercus floribunda (QL-RA-QF) community(higher altitudinal zone) exhibited the highest tree biomass (568.8 Mg ha−1), while the (Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora) PR-QL (N) community (lower altitudinal zone) in the north aspect showed the lowest (265.7 Mg ha−1). Carbon sequestration was highest in the Quercus leucotrichophora, Quercus floribunda and Rhododendron arboreum (QL-QF-RA) (higher altitudinal zone) community (7.48 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and lowest in the PR-QL (S) (middle altitudinal zone) community in the south aspect (5.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1). The relationships between carbon stock and various functional parameters such as tree density, total basal area of tree and diversity of tree showed significant positive correlations. The findings of the study revealed significant variations in the structural attributes of trees, shrubs and herbs across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. This current study’s results highlighted the significance of wildlife sanctuaries, which not only aid in wildlife preservation but also provide compelling evidence supporting forest management practices that promote the planting of multiple vegetation layers in landscape restoration as a means to enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. Further, comprehending the carbon storage mechanisms of these forests will be critical for developing environmental management strategies aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change in the years to come. © 2025 by the authors.

Prioritizing native and endemic species for conservation is fundamental to achieve broader objectives of safeguarding biodiversity, as these species are vulnerable to extinction risks. Forecasting the climatic niche of these species through species distribution models can be crucial for their habitat conservation and sustainable management in future. In this study, an ensemble modelling approach was used to predict the distribution of Bergenia stracheyi, a native alpine plant species of Himalayan region. The results revealed that the distribution of B. stracheyi is primarily influenced by Annual Mean Temperature (Bio1) and Annual Precipitation (Bio12). Ensemble model predictions revealed that under the current climatic conditions, the suitable habitats for B. stracheyi are distributed across higher elevations of Jammu and Kashmir and future ensemble model predictions indicate that, across all future climatic scenarios, the majority of the currently suitable habitats will remain suitable for the species. The model predicts a significant expansion in suitable habitats for B. stracheyi, particularly under more severe climate change scenarios (RCP8.5). However, some areas currently identified as suitable, including parts of the Pir Panjal range and Mirpur (Pakistan), are projected to become unsuitable for the species in the future. These shifts in plant distribution may have far-reaching consequences for ecosystem functioning and stability and the services provided to human communities. Additionally, these shifts may lead to mismatches between the plant phenological events and pollinators potentially causing more ecological disruptions. Thus, the predicted range shifts in the distribution of B. stracheyi highlight the importance of local conservation measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Copyright © 2025 Wani, Dar, Lone, Pant and Siddiqui.

Tropical forests, known for their biodiversity and carbon (C) richness, face significant threats from biological invasions that disrupt structural and functional processes. Lantana camara (Family: Verbenaceae) is an invasive shrub that has spread across several Indian landscapes. The present study aimed to assess the changes in tree species richness and total ecosystem carbon (TEC) storage in Lantana camara-invaded (LI) and uninvaded (UI) sites in the tropical dry deciduous forests of Madhya Pradesh, India. Significantly lower species richness (SR), C storage of juveniles, total trees, and total biomass C were observed in LI sites than in UI sites. However, significantly higher C storage of shrubs + herbs (understorey), litter, and soil organic carbon (SOC) were found in LI sites than in UI sites. The percent allocation of C in tree juveniles, adults, understorey, detritus, and SOC to the TEC pool was 2.6, 39.1, 1.4, 5.5, and 51.3 in LI sites and 3.8, 49.7, 0.2, 4.0 and 42.3 in UI sites, respectively. The C stocks of tree juveniles, adults, and herbs were lower by 23.3, 15.7 and 20.3%, respectively, in LI sites than in UI sites, whereas shrub, detritus, and SOC stocks were higher by 95.1, 9.1 and 7.9%, respectively, in LI sites than in UI sites. A significant negative relationship was observed between L. camara density and SR, tree juvenile C, herb C, understorey C, and total ecosystem C storage, while the same had a significant positive relationship with shrub C, litter C, and SOC. The present findings revealed that the plant diversity and total C pools were altered by shrub invasion and have important implications for their quantification in these tropical forests. Copyright © 2025 Lone, Kothandaraman, Dar, Hakeem and Khan.

Tropical forests, known for their biodiversity and carbon (C) richness, face significant threats from biological invasions that disrupt structural and functional processes. Lantana camara (Family: Verbenaceae) is an invasive shrub that has spread across several Indian landscapes. The present study aimed to assess the changes in tree species richness and total ecosystem carbon (TEC) storage in Lantana camara-invaded (LI) and uninvaded (UI) sites in the tropical dry deciduous forests of Madhya Pradesh, India. Significantly lower species richness (SR), C storage of juveniles, total trees, and total biomass C were observed in LI sites than in UI sites. However, significantly higher C storage of shrubs + herbs (understorey), litter, and soil organic carbon (SOC) were found in LI sites than in UI sites. The percent allocation of C in tree juveniles, adults, understorey, detritus, and SOC to the TEC pool was 2.6, 39.1, 1.4, 5.5, and 51.3 in LI sites and 3.8, 49.7, 0.2, 4.0 and 42.3 in UI sites, respectively. The C stocks of tree juveniles, adults, and herbs were lower by 23.3, 15.7 and 20.3%, respectively, in LI sites than in UI sites, whereas shrub, detritus, and SOC stocks were higher by 95.1, 9.1 and 7.9%, respectively, in LI sites than in UI sites. A significant negative relationship was observed between L. camara density and SR, tree juvenile C, herb C, understorey C, and total ecosystem C storage, while the same had a significant positive relationship with shrub C, litter C, and SOC. The present findings revealed that the plant diversity and total C pools were altered by shrub invasion and have important implications for their quantification in these tropical forests.

Plant invasion has great potential to impact ecosystem structure and function. Here, we present a case study wherein we analyzed the influence of Lantana camara on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in tropical forests of Madhya Pradesh. SOC stocks were measured at three depths in Lantana-invaded (LI) and uninvaded (UI) sites. Significantly, SOC was found to be altered by the invasion of Lantana, particularly at 0–10 cm depth, and varied between 54.2 and 83.4 Mg C ha?1. The value of SOC stocks (mean) was 21.3, 26.5, and 23.3 Mg C ha?1 in LI sites and 17.8, 25.2, and 22.1 Mg C ha?1 in UI sites, respectively. On average, the percentage of SOC at three different depths was 30%, 37.3%, and 32.7% in LI and 27.3%, 38.7%, and 40% in UI sites, respectively. Soil pH and moisture were also higher in LI sites compared to UI at all the depths, whereas the bulk density was lower in LI compared to UI, sites and it increased significantly with the depth. This study reveals that the SOC stocks are influenced by invasion and would help to understand the impact of invasive plants on SOC pools in tropical forests and predict changes in ecosystem functioning.

Managing forests requires an understanding of spatial patterns in the distribution of different species. However, species distributions are strongly influenced by variations in current and future climatic conditions. Species distribution models (SDMs) are usually used to determine current and potential distribution ranges, about multiple environmental factors that help to compare the changes/shifts in patterns of distribution under different climate change scenarios. SDMs often involve integrating field-sampled data with remotely sensed observations to generate prediction maps. Several models aid in predicting species distribution like generalized linear models (GLM), generalized additive models, random forests, maximum entropy (MaxEnt), artificial neural networks, etc. SDMs are a useful tool in forest management as they help in predicting tree occurrences, disease outbreaks, invasion zones, etc. This review focuses on the different applications of SDMs in forest management, constraints, and potential directions to avoid possible pitfalls.

Disturbance intensity plays an important role in influencing the structural and functional dynamics of ecosystems. The present study was undertaken in the tropical dry deciduous forests of Central India under varying disturbance intensities to understand their influence on structure, diversity and compositional attributes. In total, 242 rectangular plots of 0.5 ha each (50 m × 100 m) were laid in each 8 km2 grid for phytosociological analyses and assessment of disturbance factors and levels. The plots were categorized into four types based on the level of disturbance intensity: 0–20 % {undisturbed forest (UDF)}, 21–40 % {least disturbed forest (LDF)}, 41–60 % {moderately disturbed forest (MDF)} and >60 % {highly disturbed forest (HDF)}. Among the 242 plots, 48, 56, 72 and 66 plots come under UDF, LDF, MDF and HDF categories respectively. The predominant disturbance factors in HDF were fire and fuelwood collection, whereas in the case of MDF, grazing and cut stems were dominant. A total of 202 species (120 genera, 45 families) of adult trees (≥10 diameter at breast height (DBH)) were recorded across the disturbance intensity gradient, with highest species richness in UDF (175 species) and the lowest in HDF (145 species). A significant variation in the stand structure, species composition, richness and tree diversity (Shannon (H′) and Simpson (D) index) has been found across the disturbance intensity gradients. The plots with the highest disturbance intensity (HDF) had the significantly lowest tree density (p < 0.001), basal area (p < 0.001), species richness (p < 0.001), and tree diversity: H′ (p < 0.01), D (p < 0.01) than UDF, LDF and MDF intensity gradients. The diameter-class distribution showed high percentage of small-sized (11–30 cm) trees in UDF (68 %) and LDF (60 %), whereas the medium-sized trees (31–60 cm) were high in MDF (48 %) and HDF (53 %) respectively. The current findings highlight the profound impact of varying disturbance intensities on stand structure, composition and diversity, emphasizing an urgent need for restoration, protection, conservation, and sustainable management for long-term ecosystem services. © 2025 The Author(s)

Valuation of ecosystem services along with the perceptions and attitudes of local communities is crucial for sustainable management of wetlands. This study assesses changes in wetland area and bathymetry, and provides insights into local community's perceptions of ecosystem services, and attitudes towards wetland conservation in Kashmir Himalaya, India. High-resolution satellite data was used to assess land use land cover (LULC) changes within the wetland. The bathymetry changes were assessed by performing depth measurements before and after dredging in 2019 and 2022, respectively. Perceptions of ecosystem services and attitudes of residents towards wetland management were examined through surveys in 182 households from the target population of 334 families. The findings reveal that Khushalsar wetland provides important provisioning (food, fodder, thatching mats, fish, vegetables), regulating (flood control, carbon sequestration, water quality improvement), supporting (habitat, biomass and oxygen production, water and nutrient cycling), and cultural services (aesthetic, education, spiritual). The economic benefits from provisioning services range from 240 USD/yr for minor vegetables to 1201–1802 USD/0.05 ha/yr for Nelumbo nucifera. The analysis of LULC changes indicates a ∼16.5% reduction in wetland area from 1980 to 2017, with a further ∼10% decrease from 2017 to 2021, resulting in an overall loss of ∼25% (27.1 ha) in wetland area from 1980 to 2021. Bathymetric assessments reveal an increase in maximum depth from 427 cm in 2019 to 547 cm in 2022 following dredging activities. Socioeconomic analysis showed the significance of Khushalsar wetland as an important source of livelihood for local communities. Survey results indicate that all the respondents have positive attitudes towards the protection and management of the Khushalsar wetland. The study demonstrates that human conservation activities have significantly contributed to positive changes in the wetland such as increase in depth and flood storage capacity. The study concludes that government protection along with active participation of local communities is indispensable for sustainable management of wetlands. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Coastal wetland ecosystems make an important contribution to the global carbon pool, yet their extent is declining due to aquaculture-related land use changes. We conducted an extensive investigation into the carbon stock and area coverage of macrophytes in a tropical coastal Ramsar wetland, Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 72 quadrats of size 1 × 1 m 2 were laid in the wetland, 19 species of macrophytes were collected and analyzed for carbon content using a CNHS analyzer. To assess changes in the wetland macrophytes, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was estimated using Landsat time series data from 1975 to 2023. The importance value index (IVI) of macrophytes scored highest for the Ipomoea aquatica (41.4) and the lowest for Ottelia alismoides (1.9). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) significantly ( r  = 0.1905, p  = 0.0361) revealed a clear separation of macrophytes in ordination space. ANOVA indicated highly significant ( p  < 0.0001) variations in the carbon content of aboveground and belowground components of macrophytes. Among the different macrophytes, the highest carbon content was found in Phragmites karka (0.6 g. g ?1 ) and the lowest was recorded in Utricularia stellaris (0.2 g. g ?1 ). On an average, emergents in the Kolleru wetland sequester 1525 ± 181 g C m ?2  yr ?1, rooted floating species sequester 858 ± 101 g C m ?2  yr ?1, submerged macrophytes sequester 480 ± 60 g C m ?2  yr ?1, and free-floating macrophytes sequester 221 ± 90 g C m ?2  yr ?1. Land cover mapping revealed a decrease in spread of aquatic vegetation from 225.2 km 2 in 1975 to 100.6 km 2 in 2023. Although macrophytes are vital carbon sinks, the wetland conversion into fishponds has resulted in a loss of 55.3 % of carbon storage. Therefore, immediate restoration of macrophyte cover is vital for the proper functioning of carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate change impacts.

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Aim: We used an eco-phylogenetic approach to investigate the diversity and assembly patterns of tropical dry forests (TDFs) in Central India. We aimed at informing conservation and restoration practices in these anthropogenically disturbed forests by identifying potential habitats of conservation significance and elements of regional biodiversity most vulnerable to human impact and climate change. Location: Tropical dry forests of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Methods: We analysed the species richness, stem density, basal area and phylogenetic structure (standardized effect size of MNTD, MPD, PD and community evolutionary distinctiveness cED) of 117 tree species assemblages distributed across a ~230 to ~940 m elevational gradient. We examined how these community measures and taxonomic (Sørensen) and phylogenetic (UniFrac) beta diversity varied with elevation, precipitation, temperature and climatic stress. Results: Species richness, phylogenetic diversity, stem density and basal area were positively correlated with elevation, with high-elevation plots exhibiting cooler temperatures, higher precipitation and lower stress. High-elevation assemblages also trended towards greater phylogenetic dispersion, which diminished at lower elevations and in drier, more stressful plots. Phylogenetic turnover was observed across the elevation gradient, and species evolutionary distinctiveness increased at lower elevations and under harsher abiotic conditions. Main Conclusions: Harsher abiotic conditions at low elevations may act as a selective filter on plant lineages, leading to phylogenetically clustered low-diversity assemblages. These assemblages contained more evolutionarily distinct species that may contribute disproportionately to biodiversity. Conversely, milder abiotic conditions at high elevations may serve as refuges for drought-sensitive species, resulting in more diverse assemblages. Conservation practices that prioritize both high- and low-elevation habitats could promote the persistence of evolutionarily distinct species and areas of high biodiversity within the Central Indian landscape. Establishing connectivity between these habitats may provide a range of climatic conditions for species to retreat to or persist within as climates change.

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Lantana camara (hereafter Lantana) is a highly noxious invasive weed species of global concern. However, its impacts on floristic and soil properties in tropical dry deciduous forests are elusive and fragmented. We aimed to assess the changes in the flora and soil properties following the invasion by Lantana in Central Indian forest ecosystems. Three study sites were selected, and each site was further divided into two subsites: Lantana-invaded (LI) and uninvaded (UI). In total, 60 plots of 0.25 ha each (10 plots in each subsite) were laid randomly. Within each plot, floristic structure, composition, diversity, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (STN), moisture (M%), pH, and bulk density (BD) were assessed. Lantana-invaded sites showed a significant decrease in density (D), basal area (BA), species richness (SR), and evenness (E) of saplings (<3 cm diameter at breast height [DBH]), juveniles (between 3 and 9.9 cm DBH), and herbs. In LI sites, a reduction of 57% and 25% was observed in lower DBH class of trees (saplings and juveniles). In all the LI sites, significant increase in SOC, STN, and M%, and a significant decrease in pH were recorded. Lantana may greatly impact the vegetation and soil properties, and successively, these strong changes may increase its invasive potential and ability to replace native species by averting their natural regeneration potential. Therefore, a proper management strategy of this noxious weed is imperative to prevent its further expansion and future problems.

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers.

Sacred groves (SGs) play an important role in the conservation of local biodiversity and provide numerous ecosystem services worldwide. We studied how the ecological status of Central Indian SGs contributes to regional tree diversity and carbon (C) storage. We inventoried the trees in fifty-nine SGs of Madhya Pradesh and recorded a total of 109 tree species (90 genera, 40 families). The most species-rich families were Fabaceae, Combretaceae, Malvaceae, and Moraceae. The tree density ranged from 75 to 925 individuals ha (mean: 398 ± 32 individuals ha), while basal area varied from 2.5 to 69.2 m ha (mean: 24.2 ± 1.9 m ha). The total C stock {tree C + soil organic C (SOC; 0–30 cm)} ranged from 44.7 to 455.4 Mg C ha (mean: 153.8 ± 9.6 Mg C ha) across the SGs. The studied SGs represented 74.7% of the total tree diversity and contained 33.1% higher total C stock than the forests of the state. Tree C stock was significantly positively correlated with tree basal area, distance from the nearest village, and number of years of existence. The present study highlights the crucial role of SGs in sustaining regional biodiversity and storing C in biomass and soil. Continued conservation efforts and contained interventions by people are necessary in order to maintain the current role of these SGs as biodiversity and carbon reservoirs of Central India.

Rising global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO) concentrations has been a major driver of global climate change. In response, several parties to the Paris Agreement have pledged to achieve “carbon neutrality” where CO emissions are balanced by various CO removal activities. Sequestration of atmospheric CO by trees and locking it in different pools (live biomass, detritus, wood products and soil) is widely seen as an easy, cost-effective strategy that would lead to carbon neutrality. Together with attractive carbon incentives, this strategy has led to the mushrooming of several tree plantation projects all over the world. The carbon sequestration potential of a plantation depends upon several factors like species planted, site history, climate, and management practices. While well-planned tree plantations would enable the harvesting of environmental and socioeconomic benefits, ill-conceived tree planting initiatives may turn into an environmental disaster. Prior risk assessments and adoption of an integrated approach in tree plantations would help in reducing the uncertainties and achieving the desired targets. Diversified climate action plans which also include tree plantation as an integral component are necessary to achieve carbon neutrality and climate change mitigation goals.

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