@article {166887, title = {Species-specific assessment of climate change vulnerability in Himalayan Pikas and identification of at-risk elevational and latitudinal zones}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, year = {2026}, month = {06}, abstract = {

Climate change is rapidly transforming high-altitude ecosystems, placing cold-adapted species at risk. We assessed the vulnerability of four Himalayan Pika species (Ochotona macrotis, O. roylei, O. nubrica, and O. sikimaria) by integrating species distribution models with landscape metrics and sensitivity indices. Using verified occurrence records and bioclimatic variables, we projected habitat suitability under moderate (SSP 2-4.5) and extreme (SSP 5-8.5) emission scenarios for 2050 and 2070. We compared eight ecological and anthropogenic indices for two dispersal scenarios to identify species most at risk. Species responses varied, but overall exposure and fragmentation were estimated to decline, with concurrent decline in Protected Area (PA) coverage and increase Human Footprint (HFP). HFP is predicted to increase for most species under a highly restricted dispersal scenario (constrained to the current species{\textquoteright} range). Overall, we observed habitat loss, gain and stability within the same elevation bands for three species - O. macrotis and O. nubrica above 4000 m, and for O. sikimaria above 3500 m. Ochotona roylei is predicted to follow upslope range tracking, with habitat loss between 3000 {\textendash} 4000 m, stable habitat at 4000 - 4500m and gain above 4500 m. Models predicted vulnerability at higher elevations (\>4500 m) and latitudes (33{\textendash}34{\textdegree}N), for O. nubrica, contrasting with the typical trailing-edge loss seen in other pikas. Projections for O. macrotis suggested loss at high latitudes (34{\textendash}35{\textdegree}N) of its sampled range, indicative of vulnerability driven by internal range fragmentation rather than latitudinal tracking. Based on habitat specialization, sensitivity to climate drivers, and projected range change, our study identified O. roylei as the most vulnerable species. Diverse species-specific habitat and climate drivers challenge the assumption of uniform upward elevational shifts driven solely by climate change. Sustaining the pika guild over the long term will require increased habitat protection and management for habitat connectivity to support range shifts and movement as the Himalaya warms.

}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-53693-z}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-53693-z}, author = {Dahal, Nishma and Chhetri, Pritam and Kumar, Sunil and Nayak, Rajat and Dubey, Vineet and Sharma, Aashna and Noon, Barry and Ramakrishnan, Uma} } @article {125196, title = {Prioritizing India{\textquoteright}s landscapes for biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being}, journal = {NATURE SUSTAINABILITY }, year = {2023}, month = {02/2023}, abstract = {

Biodiversity conservation and human well-being are tightly interlinked. Yet, mismatches in the scale at which these two priority issues are planned and implemented have exacerbated biodiversity loss, erosion of ecosystem services and declining human quality of life. India houses the second largest human population on the planet, while \< 5\% of the country{\textquoteright}s land area is effectively protected for conservation. This warrants landscape-level conservation planning through a judicious mix of land-sharing and land-sparing approaches combined with the co-production of ecosystem services. Through a multifaceted assessment, we prioritize spatial extents of land parcels that, in the face of anthropogenic threats, can safeguard conservation landscapes across India{\textquoteright}s biogeographic zones. We found that only a fraction (similar to 15\%) of the priority areas identified here are encompassed under India{\textquoteright}s extant Protected Area network, and furthermore, that several landscapes of high importance were omitted from all previous global-scale assessments. We then examined the spatial congruence of priority areas with administrative units earmarked for economic development by the Indian government and propose management zoning through state-driven and participatory approaches. Our spatially explicit insights can help meet the twin goals of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in India and other countries across the Global South.

Biodiversity conservation is critical for promoting ecosystem services and human well-being, but current conservation efforts fail to protect most high priority zones. A mix of land-sparing and land-sharing is needed to safeguard critical ecosystems in India and across the Global South.

}, doi = {10.1038/s41893-023-01063-2}, author = {Srivathsa, Arjun and Vasudev, Divya and Nair, Tanaya and Chakrabarti, Stotra and Chanchani, Pranav and DeFries, Ruth and Deomurari, Arpit and Dutta, Sutirtha and Ghose, Dipankar and Goswami, Varun R. and Nayak, Rajat and Neelakantan, Amrita and Thatte, Prachi and Vaidyanathan, Srinivas and Verma, Madhu and Krishnaswamy, Jagdish and Sankaran, Mahesh and Ramakrishnan, Uma} } @article {79865, title = {Navigating paved paradise: Evaluating landscape permeability to movement for large mammals in two conservation priority landscapes in India}, journal = {BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION}, volume = {247}, year = {2020}, month = {7/2020}, abstract = {

Human land use and activity results in the loss of habitat and biodiversity, and alters how animals move through landscapes. Spatially explicit information on where animal movement is affected at large spatial scales is crucial for prioritizing conservation efforts. We evaluated landscape permeability to movement in two conservation priority landscapes in India, the Western Ghats (WG) and Central India (CI). Using an agent-based model we simulated movement and dispersal of five wide-ranging species in WG (elephant, gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear) and four in CI (gaur, leopard, sambar and sloth bear). For each species we compared movement in the presence and absence of land-use land-cover, infrastructure and human population to identify areas where movement is impeded and reduced due to high-resistance features; unrestricted due to relatively low-resistance features; and increased and channelled due to surrounding high-resistance areas. In both landscapes, median movement was reduced. Human land-use, human population and high linear infrastructure density contribute the highest to impeded movement for all species. Natural areas constitute only 20-55\% and 50-70\% of unrestricted, increased and channelled movement areas in WG and CI respectively. This suggests that a large percentage of the landscape crucial for maintaining movement is not completely permeable. Such areas are often neglected in conservation planning. Our spatially explicit results help identify and prioritize areas where restoration or mitigation should be planned to improve permeability to movement for large mammals. Our approach can be used for other landscapes where data on large mammal movement is lacking.

}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108613}, author = {Jayadevan, Anisha and Nayak, Rajat and Karanth, Krithi K. and Krishnaswamy, Jagdish and DeFries, Ruth and Karanth, K. Ullas and Vaidyanathan, Srinivas} } @article {72071, title = {The role of geography, environment, and genetic divergence on the distribution of pikas in the Himalaya}, journal = {ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION}, year = {2020}, month = {01/2020}, abstract = {

Pikas (Ochotona Link, 1795) are high-altitude specialist species making them a useful bioindicator species to warming in high-altitude ecosystem. The Himalayan Mountains are an important part of their range, supporting approximately 23\%{\textendash}25\% of total pika species worldwide, yet we lack basic information on the distribution patterns. We combine field-based surveys with genetics-based identification and phylogeny to identify differences in species-environment relationships. Further, we suggest putative evolutionary causes for the observed niche patterns.

}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.6007}, author = {Dahal, Nishma and Kumar, Sunil and Noon, Barry R and Nayak, Rajat and Lama, Rinzin Phunjok and Ramakrishnan, Uma} }