Climate-driven spatial patterns of diversity, phenology, and habitat suitability in Pyrenaria (Theaceae) across Northeast India
8 affiliations
- 1Biodiversity and Plant Systematics Laboratory (BioPlaS_Lab), Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM)
- 2Department of Higher Education, Govt. Degree College Verinag, Government of Jammu and Kashmir
- 3Nano-biotechnology and Translational Knowledge Laboratory, Department of Applied Biology, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya
- 4Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University)
- 5Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Kandahar University
- 6Applied Sciences Department, College of Applied Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Technology and Applied Sciences
- 7Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University
- 8Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University
Abstract
Forests of Northeast India, a global biodiversity hotspot, are increasingly threatened by climate change and human disturbances, placing narrowly distributed plant species at risk of extinction. The genus Pyrenaria (Theaceae), which includes several endemic and poorly studied species, lacks comprehensive ecological and distributional assessments necessary for evidence-based conservation planning. This study integrates extensive field surveys and MaxEnt modeling to assess the diversity, population structure, phenology, and habitat suitability of six Pyrenaria taxa across five states in Northeast India. A total of 40 occurrence points and 167 individuals (47 seedlings, 21 saplings, 99 adults) were recorded, revealing poor regeneration linked to disturbances like logging, agricultural expansion, mining and fire. Habitat suitability was modeled using the MaxEnt algorithm with eleven environmental predictors derived from WorldClim, including elevation after removing correlated variables (r > 0.8). The model showed high predictive accuracy, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.850 to 0.999 and True Skill Statistic (TSS) values from 0.50 to 0.998. Habitat suitability analysis revealed large potential distributions for most species, except for the endemic P. cherrapunjeana, which showed a highly restricted suitable habitat of only 1,633 km². Mean diurnal temperature range, precipitation, and elevation emerged as key factors influencing species distribution. By combining field-based ecological data with spatial modeling, this study identifies priority conservation areas and potential reintroduction sites, providing a framework for safeguarding Pyrenaria under ongoing environmental change.
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BibTeX
@article{alom2026climatedriven,
title = {{Climate-driven spatial patterns of diversity, phenology, and habitat suitability in Pyrenaria (Theaceae) across Northeast India}},
author = {Makbul Alom and Nazir Ahmad Bhat and Aabid Hussain Mir and Yugal Kishore Mohanta and Mohd Tariq and Parwiz Niazi and Pankaj Sah and Abdullatif Bin Muhsinah and Jalal Uddin and Mater H. Mahnashi},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-57586-z},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-57586-z},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Climate-driven spatial patterns of diversity, phenology, and habitat suitability in Pyrenaria (Theaceae) across Northeast India
AU - Makbul Alom
AU - Nazir Ahmad Bhat
AU - Aabid Hussain Mir
AU - Yugal Kishore Mohanta
AU - Mohd Tariq
AU - Parwiz Niazi
AU - Pankaj Sah
AU - Abdullatif Bin Muhsinah
AU - Jalal Uddin
AU - Mater H. Mahnashi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-57586-z
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-57586-z
AB - Forests of Northeast India, a global biodiversity hotspot, are increasingly threatened by climate change and human disturbances, placing narrowly distributed plant species at risk of extinction. The genus Pyrenaria (Theaceae), which includes several endemic and poorly studied species, lacks comprehensive ecological and distributional assessments necessary for evidence-based conservation planning. This study integrates extensive field surveys and MaxEnt modeling to assess the diversity, population structure, phenology, and habitat suitability of six Pyrenaria taxa across five states in Northeast India. A total of 40 occurrence points and 167 individuals (47 seedlings, 21 saplings, 99 adults) were recorded, revealing poor regeneration linked to disturbances like logging, agricultural expansion, mining and fire. Habitat suitability was modeled using the MaxEnt algorithm with eleven environmental predictors derived from WorldClim, including elevation after removing correlated variables (r > 0.8). The model showed high predictive accuracy, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.850 to 0.999 and True Skill Statistic (TSS) values from 0.50 to 0.998. Habitat suitability analysis revealed large potential distributions for most species, except for the endemic P. cherrapunjeana, which showed a highly restricted suitable habitat of only 1,633 km². Mean diurnal temperature range, precipitation, and elevation emerged as key factors influencing species distribution. By combining field-based ecological data with spatial modeling, this study identifies priority conservation areas and potential reintroduction sites, providing a framework for safeguarding Pyrenaria under ongoing environmental change.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -