Riparian areas are the unique areas adjacent water body. These transitional zones play a vital role in maintaining water quality and regulating hydrological processes. The current study focuses on the downstream agro-ecosystem landscapes of the Bhadra River, aiming to develop a comprehensive checklist of riparian flora. It examines the tree species diversity, composition and richness of Riparian area from January to May 2025. The study also emphasis to assesses anthropogenic disturbances affecting riparian vegetation in the study area. Random plots were laid on both the sides of Agroecosystem riparian areas of downstream Bhadra River. A total of 48 tree species belonging to 24 families were recorded from the riparian agroecosystem zones of the Bhadra River dominated by the Family Fabaceae. IVI analysis reveals that Albizia saman, Pongemia pinnata, Leucaena leucocephala and Eucalyptus as dominant contributors to the vegetation structure with IVI values of 66.1,35.8 ,30.1 and 18.3 respectively. In contrast native riparian species such as Terminalia arjuna and Syzygium cumini were observed with very low IVI values. The dominance of Non riparian species in the riparian buffers of Bhadra indicates the possible Anthropogenic pressures which requires an immediate attention for the restoration of native riparian vegetation for the conservation of river morphology and associated aquatic habitats also for the maintenance of essential ecosystem services.

Mechanical damage markedly modifies the emission patterns of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), which serve as key signaling compounds in plant defense, yet interspecific variations across diverse tree species and their linkage to ecological adaptation remain poorly characterized. This study systematically analyzed GLVs (aldehydes, alcohols, esters) in 45 tree species (19 deciduous, 26 evergreen) under both intact and mechanically wounding conditions, integrating leaf functional traits and ecological strategy types. Intact leaves emitted low levels of GLVs, primarily esters. Wounding increased total emissions 5- to 200-fold, with alcohols and aldehydes rising most sharply; over 80% of post-wounding compounds were newly induced. Deciduous species exhibited significantly higher GLVs emissions and wound responsiveness than evergreens. GLVs emissions correlated closely with leaf dry mass per area (LMA, negative) and leaf water content (LWC, positive), and differed among ecological strategy types. Wounding enhanced synergies between GLVs, monoterpenes, and aromatic compounds within the BVOC blend, forming an integrated defense network whose structure depended on life form. GLV emission patterns also aligned with species' dominant volatile metabolism: isoprene emitting deciduous trees showed intense aldehyde bursts, whereas monoterpene emitting evergreens maintained stronger ester monoterpene coupling. Our findings demonstrate that mechanical injury reprograms GLV emissions in a trait- and strategy-dependent manner, reflecting evolutionary trade-offs between growth and defense. This study provides a trait-based physio-ecological framework that links leaf economics, volatile metabolism, and network-level coordination, offering a mechanistic basis for selecting stress-resilient trees and refining forest emission models under environmental disturbance.

Urbanisation is rapidly transforming landscapes across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with profound implications for biodiversity, carbon storage, and ecosystem service provision. Despite growing recognition of urban green spaces as providing nature-based solutions, empirical evidence in SSA remains fragmented and unevenly distributed. This review synthesises 38 studies (30 journal articles and 8 grey literature sources) to critically examine linkages between urbanisation, tree species diversity, carbon stocks, and ecosystem services in SSA cities. Results reveal strong thematic silos: 50% of studies focused on single components, while only 10.5% simultaneously addressed urbanisation, biodiversity, carbon dynamics, and ecosystem services respectively. Urban expansion is consistently associated with vegetation loss and ecological simplification, with tree communities dominated by a few exotic species and native diversity increasingly marginalised. Urban carbon stocks are systematically underestimated due to incomplete biomass inventories and limited inclusion of data from soils and belowground carbon pools. Ecosystem service assessments largely emphasise provisioning benefits, with regulating and cultural services receiving minimal quantitative attention. Social dimensions are weakly integrated, with limited incorporation of community perceptions and indigenous knowledge. Compared with global urban ecology, SSA research lags significantly in interdisciplinary integration, constraining evidence-based planning and climate-responsive urban development. Key gaps include insufficient linkage between land-use change and ecological functions, limited application of functional diversity metrics, inconsistent carbon accounting approaches, and weak science policy interfaces. The review highlights the urgent need for integrated urban ecology frameworks that combine spatial analysis, biodiversity assessment, carbon accounting, ecosystem service valuation, and community participatory approaches. Strengthening such integration is essential for advancing nature-based solutions, enhancing climate resilience, and supporting sustainable urban development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Climate change is impacting forests in Central Europe, causing increased mortality and degradation of forest ecosystem services (FES). As global warming intensifies, these effects are likely to worsen, particularly through more severe droughts and increased biotic disturbances. Understanding how forests respond to different levels of warming is essential for adaptation planning. Therefore, this study analyzed changes in forest structure and FES, including timber production, climate change mitigation, recreation, and structural diversity, under three global warming scenarios. Using the LandClim model, we compared warming levels of 1.5, 2, and 3 ​°C above pre-industrial temperatures, based on 30-year periods from RCP data, to historical climate. Our research focused on Freiburg's forests in southwestern Germany, characterized by diverse tree species and an elevation range of 200–1,250 ​m a.s.l. A warming of 1.5 ​°C could temporarily increase productivity, but at 2 ​°C, biomass losses of up to 10% would occur below elevations of 450 ​m due to drought mortality. Under 3 ​°C, losses would intensify below 650 ​m up to 40%, with even drought-resistant species like pedunculate oak experiencing mortality. At higher elevations, bark beetle outbreaks caused mortality of Norway spruce, while European beech capitalized on the changing ecological conditions. Higher warming levels significantly deteriorated FES, particularly timber production, climate change mitigation, and structural diversity, while recreation was less affected. These findings emphasize the urgency of meeting Paris Agreement targets, as limiting warming below 2 ​°C can reduce severe impacts. If warming exceeds this critical threshold, even species presently considered drought-resistant, such as native sessile and pedunculate oaks and non-native red oak, could face serious threats at lower elevations. This would undermine the effectiveness of current management strategies, as these tree species are key to providing multiple FES.

Rhizosphere microbial diversity and community assembly in tree species–slope aspect coupled mountain forests of the Qilian Mountains, northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Tree community composition modulates early-stage decomposition of standard litter through chemical and physical engineering

Assessing tree species diversity, aboveground biomass, and soil fertility across forest types of the eastern Hindukush Mountains

Unveiling tree species diversity and ecological similarity networks: Insights from National Forest Inventory South Korea

Abstract. Ha NT, Ngoan TT, Hung DV, Hai NH. 2026. Tree species diversity and stand structural stability in secondary evergreen broadleaf forests of southern Vietnam. Biodiversitas 27 (2): d270209. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270209. Species diversity and stand structural stability are fundamental concepts in ecology, yet their relationship remains debated. This study was conducted to evaluate the link between tree species diversity and stand structural stability of evergreen broadleaf forests in La Nga Protection Forest Management Board, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. Data were collected from 102 temporary sample plots (500 m2 each) across three forest types: medium evergreen broadleaf forests (29 plots), poor evergreen broadleaf forests (33 plots), and woody-bamboo mixed forests (40 plots). The results identified a total of 128 species across the three forest types, with a moderate level of species similarity, as indicated by Jaccard indices ranging from 0.60 to 0.66. Species relationships showed an overall co-occurrence tendency across all forest types. Tree species diversity indices in the Evergreen Broadleaf Medium (EBM) Forests were higher than those in Evergreen Broadleaf Poor (EBP) and Woody-Bamboo Mixed (WBM) Forests, but the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05), except for the Pielou Index (p<0.05). Stand structural stability based on the Godron Index showed the ranking EBM > EBP > WBM among the studied forest types. Both Simpson (D) and Pielou (J’) Indices were positively correlated with stand structural stability (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the importance of conserving tree species diversity to maintain stand structural stability, while providing a scientific basis for the sustainable management of rehabilitated forest ecosystems in Vietnam.

Climatic stressors, notably increased salinity, influence the vegetation dynamics of the Sundarbans, the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world. However, their role in the spatial stand structure of trees remains poorly understood. The overall objective of the study was to assess the role of salinity on the spatial diversity of tree species by using some neighbourhood-based variables. Thirty permanent sample plots were classified as low, medium, and high saline areas based on water salinity level for collecting primary data. With the increase of salinisation, the trees started clumping from the random aggregation and dispersion by suffering the loss of species richness and natural regeneration. The highest species was found in the low saline area adjacent to human settlements despite the presence of merciless anthropogenic disturbances like illegal logging. This area also consisted of a handful of size (dbh and height) classes, which in turn described a decent mixture of young, adult, and old-growth trees. Contrarily, the high saline area was inhabited by only adult dwarf trees. Neighbourhood-based variables and methods were proven to be simple, easy, less technical, time-saving, and non-expensive, which can articulate the spatial dimensions of a complex ecosystem. Immediate mitigation actions are warranted to maintain the status quo and to protect from further degradation. The species-centric spatial dimensions should be examined further to measure the impact of stressors on the spatial pattern of each species.

Abstract. Rakarcha S, Thammarong W, Panyadee P, Muenrew J, Nuammee A, Tharawoot T, Saensouk P, Saensouk S. 2026. Tree species diversity and conservation in Ban Tin Tok community forest, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Biodiversitas 27 (1): d270146. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270146. This study assessed tree species composition, ecological importance, conservation status and local utilization in Ban Tin Tok community forest, Phitsanulok Province, northern Thailand. Data were collected from twenty 10 × 10 m plots (totaling 0.2 ha), recording all trees with DBH ≥5 cm. A total of 28 species from 27 genera and 15 families were identified. The forest was co-dominated by Pentacme siamensis, Pterocarpus macrocarpus and Canarium subulatum, which exhibited the highest importance value indices. The forest exhibited moderate species diversity and moderate-to-high evenness with a Shannon-Wiener index (H′) of 2.40 and a Pielou’s evenness index (J′) of 0.72, reflecting a relatively stable community structure. The conservation assessment revealed that while most recorded species are categorized as Least Concern (LC), a significant proportion requires attention: one species (P. macrocarpus) is classified as Endangered (EN) and three species (Shorea obtusa, Dipterocarpus obtusifolius and Dalbergia cultrata) are Near Threatened (NT); these four species together account for 14.29% of the total 28 species recorded. Ethnobotanical surveys documented 18 species utilized by the local community for purposes, including food, medicine and materials. These findings highlight the high socio-ecological value of this forest. These results suggest that community forests in northern Thailand can serve as vital refuges for threatened species and sustain traditional ecological knowledge. This quantitative baseline supports the necessity for integrated management strategies that balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable local livelihoods.

African elephants (<i>Loxodonta Africana cyclotis</i>) serve a pivotal role in shaping forest ecosystems, particularly in regions like Mount Cameroon national park. Their size and behavior impact various ecological components, from canopy structure to understory dynamics. Also, elephants play a crucial role as ecosystem engineers, and their foraging and browsing behaviors induce significant disturbances that shape forest characteristics. This study explored the impact of African forest elephants’ activity on the forest ecology of Mount Cameroon national park, focusing on six key areas, forest canopy structure, tree species composition, forest tree regeneration, vine growth, forest understory dynamics, and large trees formation. Research data collection was carried out five days each month, for a period of six months. Systematic vegetation plots within selected sites were established to examine tree abundance and species diversity. Quadrats and transects were equally used to capture data on the types and numbers of trees, especially focusing on both preferred and less preferred species by elephants. The results of this study showed that African forest elephant activity recorded a significant association on forest canopy structure r=0.309 P=0.001, tree species composition X<sup>2</sup>=83.267 df=6 P=0.000, forest tree regeneration X<sup>2</sup>=45.891 df=6 P=0.000, vine growth X<sup>2</sup>=54.030 df=6 P=0.000, forest understory X<sup>2</sup>=69.696 df=6 P=0.000, and large trees structure X<sup>2</sup>=73.283 df=6 P=0.000 respectively. Furthermore, human-wildlife conflict revealed a significant link on elephant population threat X<sup>2</sup>=63.720 df=4 P=0.000, biodiversity rating X<sup>2</sup>=63.154 df=4 P=0.000, and elephants grouping behaviour X<sup>2</sup>=62.876 df=4 P=0.000 respectively. Forest elephants play a crucial role in rainforest ecosystem. Their activities, including browsing, trampling, and creating trails, modify the forest structure, which in turn affects resource availability and habitat for other species. As human populations expand into rainforest areas, elephants face habitat loss and fragmentation. This encroachment reduces the space available for elephants to roam and feed, leading to population declines. The findings indicated that elephant interactions result in increased biodiversity, altered species distributions, and varying regeneration patterns, which collectively contribute to the resilience of forest ecosystems. This research equally underscores the importance of elephants in maintaining ecological balance in Mount Cameroon national park and provides insights for effective conservation strategies aimed at protecting both elephant populations and the valuable forest habitat they help sustain.

Soil and microbial stoichiometry shape microbial necromass carbon accrual in topsoil and subsoil across tree species diversity

ABSTRACT Urban afforestation in tropical regions provides key ecosystem services that enhance urban resilience, support biodiversity conservation, and promote human well‐being. This study assessed patterns of species abundance and diversity of street trees based on origin, fruit‐bearing status, and tree size classes in Macapá, Northeastern Brazilian Amazon. Street trees were systematically inventoried along urban blocks across all administrative zones of the city. We recorded 52 species, most of them exotic (75%) and fruit‐bearing (52%), reflecting colonial legacies and local preferences for utilitarian species, especially those used for food production. Notably, none of the native species identified were endemic to the Amazon biome, indicating predominance of widely distributed taxa even among natives used in urban landscaping. Species richness was similar between small (41 species) and medium‐sized trees (41), but declined markedly among large trees (24). This is the first study in the region to apply a systematic field inventory of street trees, revealing a concerning trend: mature, tall species are being replaced by smaller, fast‐growing ones. This shift suggests a reduction or potential loss of important ecosystem services typically associated with large‐canopy trees, such as shade provision, carbon storage, and habitat availability for urban fauna. We also found low average tree density (9.78 ± 2.16 individuals km −1 ; mean ± standard deviation), emphasizing the need for afforestation planning that prioritizes biodiversity, ecological functionality, and climate resilience. Our findings underscore the importance of management strategies that consider species composition, functional traits, and spatial distribution to effectively meet socioenvironmental demands in tropical urban settings.

Many studies show that tree diversity promotes forest productivity, and few recent ones suggest that this diversity effect may strengthen under climate warming. Yet this pattern has rarely been tested with observations. Here, we investigated how the species mixture affects forest productivity in response to increasing aridity, relying on 25,838 French forest surveys between 2005 and 2016. We showed that 79.8% of the variation in forest productivity was explained by interactions among tree species richness, baseline and temporal changes in water supply and stand density. Although forest productivity decreased with water deficit (for both baseline conditions and temporal changes), species richness mitigated the magnitude of this productivity reduction. These findings indicate that species mixture stabilizes productivity along a water supply gradient and enhances resistance to increasing aridity. In addition, we found that this species diversity insurance of forest productivity in the face of water supply variation is also dependent on stand density. Our modeling approach evidenced that the positive biodiversity effect, mainly observed in forests where recent climate change has decreased water supply, diminished as tree density increased, and even becoming negative in forests having highest tree density under favorable hydric conditions. Covering a large spectrum of climate conditions, this study reveals how tree species diversity insure forest productivity against climate change over time. Regarding the anticipated acceleration of global warming, forest management should prioritize tree diversity to sustain wood productivity and carbon storage, particularly in water-limited conditions. Additionally, foresters should consider tree density effects in their planning to preserve the beneficial effects of tree diversity on forest productivity.

Riparian vegetation is the buffer zone between the aquatic ecosystem of a river and the terrestrial ecosystem. Trees are a typical feature of many ecosystems. Understanding the diversity and geographic distribution of trees holds significant theoretical and practical value. This study highlights the rich diversity of tree species along the river Dudhganga with 80 species from 30 families identified through an extensive field survey from October 2021 to June 2024. The species-rich families are Fabaceae with 10 native species, contributing 18% of the total native tree diversity, Moraceae with eight species, and Malvaceae & Lamiaceae each with four species. Species-rich and diverse genus Ficus dominated with seven species. Ficus racemosa exhibits a widespread distribution across riparian habitats, which is the most evenly distributed species, while Pongamia pinnata stands out as the most dominant species among riparian tree taxa. Among the 80 tree species, two species are endemic to India, 55 are native and 25 are invasive. The altitudinal gradient exerts a substantial influence, as evidenced by research indicating that the diversity and density of riparian trees escalate with ascending altitudes. This study reveals a relatively diverse tree flora in riparian areas and aims to serve as a tool for managing the tree species diversity of the riparian land.

Both riparian tree species diversity and genetic diversity can influence streams through leaf litter decomposition; however, these two sources of variation have not been compared directly. Here, we compare leaf litter decomposition for a physical mixture of two Populus species to the litter from an F1 hybrid (a genetic mixture) of the same two species. Leaf litter was collected from a common garden for an F1 hybrid between Japanese poplar (Populus maximowiczii A. Henry) and black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook.), as well as both parent species. Four litterbag treatments consisted of litter from the F1 hybrid, an equal-part mixture treatment of litters from both parents, and litter from each parent in isolation. The hybrid litter had higher C:N content and lower % condensed tannins than either parent species, or the average of the two parents that represented the mixture. While the hybrid and mixture treatments both lost more mass than expected by day 42, the mixture lost relatively more mass than the hybrid and roughly as much as the faster-decomposing P. trichocarpa parent. The hybrid mimicked the mixture, and both supported higher aquatic macroinvertebrate richness and less litter mass remaining than expected based on parent species values, despite differences between the hybrid and mixture in initial phytochemistry.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by deadwood are increasingly recognised as key olfactory cues used by saproxylic beetles to locate suitable substrates, yet their role during colonisation remains poorly understood. To address this, we quantified VOC emissions and beetle assemblages while experimentally disentangling the main ecological drivers of the deadwood volatilome (tree species, sun exposure). We exposed 1200 freshly cut branches of oak, beech, spruce, and pine across Central Europe. To mimic natural variation in deadwood and disturbance, bundles were either sterilised (reducing endogenous fungi), inoculated with a brown rot fungus (Fomitopsis pinicola) or a white rot fungus (Fomes fomentarius), or burned. From each bundle, we sampled 448 substances, 89 of which were identified as VOCs, and reared 134 saproxylic beetle species. Broadleaf and conifer species emitted distinct VOC profiles that matched beetle tree-type preferences. In conifers, bark beetles, longhorn beetles, and jewel beetles were associated with different chemical cues, whereas taxonomic separation was not observed in broadleafs. Although treatments altered VOC composition, they did not explain beetle colonisation. Our study shows that VOCs emitted during early decay are associated with distinct beetle assemblages. The VOC composition varied with tree species and treatments, indicating that chemical variation reflects the influence of multiple ecological factors. These findings suggest that tree-species diversity enhances chemical heterogeneity in deadwood, which is linked to broader beetle assemblages. Forest conservation efforts may therefore need to consider the role of chemical variation in deadwood, as it could influence saproxylic colonisation and biodiversity management.

Land-use intensification has simplified functional biodiversity in tropical ecosystems, undermining the provision of ecosystem services. Although agroforestry systems (AFS) have been widely promoted as sustainable alternatives to deforestation, it remains unclear how system age influences plant ecological strategies and functional diversity, and how these functional patterns affect the provision of ecosystem services. We evaluated the functional traits and diversity of tree species across eight AFSs in western Amazonia, differing in age. We measured above- and below-ground traits linked to plant ecological strategies, along with ecosystem functions that act as proxies of key ecosystem services. These functions included primary productivity, soil water regulation, soil protection, and nutrient pool, which were linked to regulating ecosystem services following the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services. We assessed how system age affects functional identity, trait complementarity, and multifunctionality, and how these functional patterns influence these ecosystem functions and, consequently, the provision of regulating ecosystem services. Our findings reveal that the human-driven functional composition of tree communities shifts systematically with AFS age, promoting soil fertility and protection, and aboveground biomass storage, which may reduce external inputs and enhance climate resilience. Also, in long-term AFSs, functional traits converged toward conservative strategies, while above- and below-ground traits remained orthogonal, which support ecosystem multifunctionality and may enhance stability while reducing management costs. Functional identity, particularly traits such as specific leaf area and root tissue diameter, was also related to ecosystem functions, including soil protection and soil water regulation, respectively. These results reinforce the need to consider functional traits in agroforestry planning and policy, which can improve resilience and long-term ecosystem service provision, particularly in degraded tropical areas, strengthening the role of agroforestry in sustainable agriculture.

Diverse tree communities can bolster urban ecosystem resilience and provide vital ecosystem services. However, existing urban tree species datasets have limited geographic coverage and contain inadequate attributes. To address those gaps, we developed the Global Urban Tree Species (GUTS) dataset by integrating data from literature, biodiversity databases, and other open sources. The new dataset encompasses 159,845 occurrence records of 10,094 tree species in 8,349 cities and 139 countries. Among them, 109,879 records were confirmed from urban areas, representing 11.18% of global tree species diversity. The dataset has been validated using multiple methods. GUTS fills critical data gaps and provides a foundation for future research and management of global urban biodiversity.