Climate change could amplify the extinction risk of endemic species, and the risk is even greater for species occupying high elevations and mountain ranges. In this study, we assessed the climatically suitable habitat of the only endemic Nepalese bird species, the spiny babbler (Turdoides nipalensis), and predicted the extent of the future (2050 and 2070) habitat of this species under two climate change scenarios (SSP2‐4.5 and SSP5‐8.5). We used georeferenced occurrence points alongside ecologically meaningful climatic and topographic variables to develop an ensemble suitable habitat model using different species distribution modeling algorithms in BIOMOD2. We identified 22,488.83 km² (15%) of Nepal's total land area as suitable habitat for this endemic species, where the nonprotected regions incorporated the largest extent of suitable habitat (88%), with a majority of this suitable area within the central Mid‐Hill region. Under the SSP2‐4.5 scenario, 21.58% and 34.08% of the current suitable habitat range are projected to be lost by 2050 and 2070, respectively. Whereas under the SSP5‐8.5 scenario, our projections suggest that 40.45% and 52.18% of habitat will be lost by 2050 and 2070, respectively. Habitat suitability increased with a rise in warmest quarter precipitation (above 1000 mm), coldest quarter precipitation between 50 and 100 mm, and warmest quarter temperature between 20 and 30°C. Given our results, it is crucial to review the conservation policy of nonprotected areas and formulate a spiny babbler‐specific conservation action plan with a special focus on protecting their primary habitat in human‐dominated landscapes and nonprotected areas.

We aimed to determine the important functional dimensions that may drive forest succession and community assembly patterns in dry tropical forests. We investigated whether there were patterns in specific functional strategies during succession in the dry tropical forests of the Florida Keys, whose unique physical setting includes nutrient‐stressed, salt‐stressed, and water‐limited environments. The study, which focused on ten traits, determined the leading trait dimensions by which species differentiate from one another in the study area. The general patterns of trait covariation at individual sites and among species were analyzed using principal component analysis. Trait niche overlap indices were calculated for all species sampled across all plots. Evidence for/against likely community assembly processes was tested using the coefficient of heterogeneity to determine whether variation within and among five key traits was clustered, random, or evenly distributed across young, old, or all measured forest stands. A combination of plant architecture, wood density, and three leaf traits (specific leaf area, leaf phosphorus, and leaf nitrogen) comprised a key set of functional traits that are important for understanding the community assembly process in dry tropical forest. Older forest stands were dominated by species with low specific area, low leaf nitrogen content, dense wood, and deeper and narrower canopies. Trees of old forests had leaves with lighter carbon isotope composition, suggesting that such individuals were making more efficient use of scarce water. Tests of trait distributions showed significant clustering across forests of all ages. When individual trait distributions in old stands were tested, they displayed either randomly or evenly distributed traits across trait niche space, indicating that resource partitioning was predominant in shaping community composition. Physical traits of trees in young communities are associated with resource acquisitive strategies, while old communities are dominated by species with traits that enhance survival in environments defined by competition or chronic resource scarcity.

Quercus arkansana (Arkansas oak) is at risk of becoming endangered, as the total known population size is represented by a few isolated populations. The potential impact of climate change on this species in the near future is high, yet knowledge of its predicted effects is limited. Our study utilized the biomod2 R package to develop habitat suitability ensemble models based on bioclimatic and topographic environmental variables and the known locations of current distribution of Q. arkansana. We predicted suitable habitats across three climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) for 2050, 2070, and 2090. Our findings reveal that the current suitable habitat for Q. arkansana is approximately 127,881 km² across seven states (Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida); approximately 9.5% is encompassed within state and federally managed protected areas. Our models predict that all current suitable habitats will disappear by 2050 due to climate change, resulting in a northward shift into new regions such as Tennessee and Kentucky. The large extent of suitable habitat outside protected areas suggests that a species-specific action plan incorporating protected areas and other areas may be crucial for its conservation. Moreover, protection of Q. arkansana habitat against climate change may require locally and regionally focused conservation policies, adaptive management strategies, and educational outreach among local people.

Phylogenetic constraints on ecophysiological adaptations and specific resource requirements are likely to explain why some taxonomic/functional groups exhibit different richness patterns along climatic gradients. We used interpolated species elevational distribution data and climatic data to describe gymnosperm species richness variation along elevational and climatic gradients in the Himalayas. We compared the climatic and elevational distributions of gymnosperms to those previously found for bryophytes, ferns, and angiosperm tree lineages to understand the respective drivers of species richness. We divided our study location into three regions: Eastern; Central; and Western Himalayas, in each calculating gymnosperm species richness per 100-m band elevational interval by determining the sum of species with overlapping elevational distributions. Using linear regression, we analyzed the relationship between species’ elevational mid-point and species’ elevational range size to test the Rapoport’s rule for gymnosperms in the Himalayas. Generalized linear models were used to test if potential evapotranspiration, growing degree days, and the number of rainy days could predict the observed patterns of gymnosperm species richness. We used the non-linear least squares method to examine if species richness optima differed among the four taxa. We found supporting evidence for the elevational Rapoport’s rule in the distribution of gymnosperms, and we found a unimodal pattern in gymnosperm species richness with elevation, with the highest species richness observed at ca. 3000 m. We also found a unimodal pattern of gymnosperm species richness along both the potential evapotranspiration and growing degree day gradients, while the relationship between species richness and the number of rainy days per year was non-significant. Gymnosperm species richness peaked at higher elevations than for any other plant functional group. Our results are consistent with the view that differences in response of contrasting plant taxonomic groups with elevation can be explained by differences in energy requirements and competitive interactions.

To assess threats to the population of native mammals and their survival, we performed a retrospective study utilizing a rescue and rehabilitation database from Nepal. Based on a total number of 1013 cases involving six taxonomic families of mammals admitted over five years, the outcome (mortality and survivability) differed significantly among six taxa ( χ ² [df = 5, N = 1013] = 65.08, p < .001). The mortality rate was highest in Felidae (74%), followed by Herpestidae (69%), Viverridae (62%), Bovidae (50%), Cervidae (50%), and Cercopithecidae (38%). The outcome also differed significantly among the causes of admission ( χ ² [df = 9, N = 1013] = 241.48, p < .001). The prevalence of mortality was highest in the cases of gunshot and poisoning, followed by collision with a vehicle, diseases/infection, entanglement/trapped, injured by dogs/cats, abandoned/orphaned, injured by humans, unknown causes, and domestic/captivity issues. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the significant influence of taxonomic family, age group, and cause of admission on the likelihood of mortality of the rescued mammals. The odds ratio of mortality was higher for carnivore taxa, and juveniles were more likely to succumb to death than adults. Our study provides important information associated with the mortality of rescued mammals, thereby assisting in the development and formulation of strategies for threat mitigation and an efficient rehabilitation process.