Seasonal variations of leaf ecophysiological traits and strategies of co-occurring evergreen and deciduous trees in white oak forest in the central Himalaya.

The present study investigates the seasonal variations in leaf ecophysiological traits and strategies employed by co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species within a white oak forest (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) ecosystem in the central Himalaya. Seasonal variations in physiological, morphological, and chemical traits were observed from leaf initiation until senescence in co-occurring deciduous and evergreen tree species.

Topography-mediated light environment regulates intra-specific seasonal and diurnal patterns of photosynthetic plasticity and plant ecophysiological adaptation strategies.

Due to substantial topographic variations in the Himalaya, incident solar radiation in the forest canopy is highly unequal. This results in significant environmental differences at finer scales and may lead to considerable differences in photosynthetic productivity in montane forests. Therefore, local-scale ecophysiological investigations, may be more effective and instructive than landscape-level inventories and models.

Leaf and tree age-related changes in leaf ecophysiological traits, nutrient, and adaptive strategies of in the central Himalaya.

Leaf ecophysiological traits are known to change with leaf and tree age. In the present study, we measured the effect of leaf and tree age on leaf ecophysiological and morphological traits of nitrogen-fixing (D. Don) which is a pioneer tree species in degraded lands.

People's Perception and Awareness towards Plant Invasion, Its Impacts on Forest Ecosystem Services and Livelihood: A Tale of Central Himalayas.

Plant invasion is a leading threat to biodiversity, ecosystem services and human wellbeing worldwide. In the central Himalayas intentionally or accidentally introduced invasive alien plant species (IAPS) facilitate their own establishment and spread, which is altering forest structure, vegetation composition, species diversity and livelihood. To understand the perception and awareness amongst local communities about invasive alien and native plants and its effect on local livelihood, a questionnaire-based study was conducted in 10 villages of Nainital district, Uttarakhand, India.

Influence of forest types on soil physicochemical and biological characteristics of associated agroecosystems in the central Himalaya.

Forests significantly influence the dynamics of microbial biomass and soil nutrients in neighboring agricultural lands. Little information is available on how forest types affect the physicochemical and microbial dynamics of soil in surrounding agroecosystems. The present study evaluated the influence of forest types on soil physicochemical and biological characteristics of forest and associated agricultural systems in the Himalaya.

Ecosystem carbon stocks and sequestration rates in white oak forests in the central Himalaya: Role of nitrogen-fixing Nepalese alder.

Nitrogen-fixing Nepalese alder ( D. Don.), a pioneer species and nurse tree species, forms pure stands, and sometimes occurs in mixed stands in areas affected by landslides.

Dynamics of soil bio-physicochemical properties under different disturbance regimes in sal forests in western Himalaya, India.

Disturbance is a key factor in controlling vegetation diversity, nutrient influx rate, and biochemical cycling in terrestrial forest ecosystems. Limited studies are available on changes in tree diversity, soil nutrients and enzyme activities in response to different intensities of land disturbances in the Himalayan forests. Present study investigated the impact of varying intensities of disturbances on tree diversity and their relationship with soil physical and bio-chemical properties in sal forests, Western Himalayas.

Functional leaf traits indicate phylogenetic signals in forests across an elevational gradient in the central Himalaya.

Traits are the primary attributes that distinguish a species niche. Species and higher taxa are part of a structured phylogeny, and variation in plant traits depends on lineage as well as on environmental conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate linkages between taxonomic identity, shared ancestry, and environment for understanding the variation in leaf traits.

Publisher Correction: Successional trajectory of bacterial communities in soil are shaped by plant-driven changes during secondary succession.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Successional trajectory of bacterial communities in soil are shaped by plant-driven changes during secondary succession.

This study investigated the potential role of a nitrogen-fixing early-coloniser Alnus Nepalensis D. Don (alder) in driving the changes in soil bacterial communities during secondary succession. We found that bacterial diversity was positively associated with alder growth during course of ecosystem development.