Distribution pattern and habitat suitability modelling of an invasive plant species – Solanum viarum Dunal

IF 2.5 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Journal for Nature Conservation Pub Date : 2025-07-18 DOI:10.1016/j.jnc.2025.127021

Saima Jan , Awdhesh Kumar Mishra , Sumreen Amin Shah , Mujtaba Aamir Bhat , Zishan Ahmad Wani , Arif Tasleem Jan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Invasive species significantly contribute to ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss globally, posing substantial ecological and economic challenges. Understanding their distribution patterns is essential for assessing their impacts and formulating effective management strategies. This study evaluates the phytosociology and habitat suitability of Solanum viarum Dunal, a potential invasive species in the Indian Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Extensive field surveys were conducted across various districts of the study area, and a total of 41 sites were randomly selected for data collection. The quadrat method was used to collect phytosociological data, and the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling technique was employed to predict its habitat suitability under current climatic conditions. The species was predominantly found in disturbed habitats, such as roadsides, wastelands, and other human-influenced sites, with densities ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 individuals/m². Its distribution pattern was random at 23 sites and regular at 18 sites. MaxEnt modelling indicated that approximately 13,500 km² (31.95 %) of total geographical area of J&K is suitable for the species, with 6,410 km² (15.17 %) classified as moderately suitable, 5,146 km² (12.18 %) as least suitable, and 1,944 km² (4.6 %) as highly suitable. Suitable habitats are primarily concentrated in the Jammu region, while the Kashmir valley offers marginally suitable areas. The findings of the study highlight the potential for S. viarum to expand its range from subtropical zones of Jammu into the temperate regions of Kashmir under favorable environmental conditions. This underscores the need for targeted management and conservation strategies to mitigate its spread and safeguard biodiversity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a critical part of the northwestern Himalayas known for its ecological sensitivity and high endemism. There is an urgent need for future suitability modelling to find out whether the projected climate change conditions will increase its suitability in the existing habitats.

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入侵植物龙葵分布格局及生境适宜性模拟

入侵物种严重加剧了全球生态系统退化和生物多样性丧失，带来了巨大的生态和经济挑战。了解它们的分布模式对于评估它们的影响和制定有效的管理战略至关重要。本研究对印度联邦领土（UT）查谟和克什米尔（J&；K）潜在入侵物种——紫荆（Solanum viarum Dunal）的植物社会学和生境适宜性进行了评价。在研究区的各个地区进行了广泛的实地调查，并随机选择了41个站点进行数据收集。采用样方法收集植物社会学资料，利用最大熵（MaxEnt）建模技术预测其在当前气候条件下的生境适宜性。该物种主要分布于受干扰的生境，如路边、荒地和其他受人类影响的地点，密度为0.3至1.3只/平方米。23个站点的分布具有随机性，18个站点的分布具有规律性。MaxEnt模型表明，该地区约有13500 km2（31.95%）的地理面积适合该物种生长，其中中度适宜面积为6410 km2(15.17%)，不适宜面积为5146 km2(12.18%)，高度适宜面积为1,944 km2（4.6%）。合适的栖息地主要集中在查谟地区，而克什米尔山谷提供了略微合适的地区。这项研究的发现强调了在有利的环境条件下，金黄色葡萄球菌有可能将其范围从查谟的亚热带地区扩大到克什米尔的温带地区。这突出表明需要有针对性的管理和保护战略，以减缓其在查谟和克什米尔联邦领土的传播并保护生物多样性。查谟和克什米尔联邦领土是喜马拉雅山脉西北部的一个关键部分，以其生态敏感性和高度地方性而闻名。目前迫切需要建立未来适宜性模型，以确定预估的气候变化条件是否会增加其在现有栖息地的适宜性。

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来源期刊

Journal for Nature Conservation 环境科学-生态学

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

5.00%

发文量

151

审稿时长

7.9 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal for Nature Conservation addresses concepts, methods and techniques for nature conservation. This international and interdisciplinary journal encourages collaboration between scientists and practitioners, including the integration of biodiversity issues with social and economic concepts. Therefore, conceptual, technical and methodological papers, as well as reviews, research papers, and short communications are welcomed from a wide range of disciplines, including theoretical ecology, landscape ecology, restoration ecology, ecological modelling, and others, provided that there is a clear connection and immediate relevance to nature conservation. Manuscripts without any immediate conservation context, such as inventories, distribution modelling, genetic studies, animal behaviour, plant physiology, will not be considered for this journal; though such data may be useful for conservationists and managers in the future, this is outside of the current scope of the journal.