Abstract

Understanding the factors that control vegetation distribution in the Western Ghats (WG) of India—one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots with high species endemism—is crucial for both biodiversity conservation and the successful implementation of afforestation programs. Vegetation distribution in the WG is primarily driven by a west-to-east decrease in rainfall and a south-to-north increase in the length of the dry season. Our recent study identifies two new factors, related to the monsoonal climate and asymmetric solar heating, that influence vegetation structure at the landscape scale: (i) north-facing slopes exhibit greater tree cover (TC) and canopy height (CH) compared to south-facing slopes, and (ii) west-facing slopes have higher TC and CH than east-facing slopes. As a result, northwest and southeast aspects generally show the highest and lowest TC (and CH), respectively. The research highlights the role of slope aspect in shaping vegetation heterogeneity, even in low-latitude regions like the WG, where higher relief intensifies this effect. These findings suggest that slope aspect should be a key consideration in biodiversity conservation and vegetation management at the landscape scale in the WG.

About the speaker

Dr. Shreyas Managave is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and Climate Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune. At the Biogeochemistry Lab, he utilizes stable isotopes to investigate interdisciplinary research questions across geology, climate science, and biology.