Relationship of bioclimatic and topographic variation on species-biomass distribution in tropical forest reserve.

Forests are essential for the ecological functioning providing critical habitats for biodiversity and hold large biomass, which are affected by bioclimatic and topographical variables. This study investigated the topographic factor (elevation) that play an important role in forest diversity and biomass distribution. The present study examined the relationship between topographical (viz. elevation, slope, aspects) and Bioclimatic variables (temperature/ precipitation) with measured biomass of Tropical forests. The study area selected is Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), a tropical forest with high conservation priorities with fewer disturbances. Earth observation datasets such as ALOS-PALSAR, SRTM, and GEDI aboveground biomass density (AGBD) are retrieved in the Cloud computing platform (GGE) to generate outcomes. The study also utilized Bioclimatic variables such as maximum, minimum and mean temperature during warmest/coldest month and warmest, coldest, wettest, driest Quarters. GEDI derived mean biomass was observed to be 1.3 to 95 Mg/ha ± (0.68–5.88 SD). The data was statistically analyzed using correlation coefficient (R) for topographic and bioclimatic variables. Results specified six Biodiversity indices (BDI), and six bioclimatic variables during analysis. Correlation coefficient (R) indicated strong positive relationship of three biodiversity indices with elevation for Shannon - Weiner index (R = 0.71) followed by Margalef richness index (R = 0.65) and reciprocal Simpson index (R = 0.61). While Buzas and Gibson Index (R=−0.45), Berger dominance index (R=−0.27), and Menhinick index (R=−0.51) showed negative correlation with elevation. Overall, topographic and bioclimatic variables are governed by elevation for biomass and carbon stocks (with r=−0.41). Similarly, correlation coefficient (R) of elevation against max temperature during Warmest month (MTMW), Warmest Quarter (MTWarQ) and Wettest Quarter (MTWetQ) indicated strong negative correlation with R value of −0.88, −0.88, and − 0.87 respectivelry. It is followed by MTColdest Quarter (R=−0.85) and MinTCM (R=−0.84). while lowest correlation was shown by Min Temp during Driest Quarter with R=−0.23. Outcomes showed declining trends of biomass stocks ranged from 129.44 mg/t to 7.07 mg/t with significantly increasing trends till mid elevation and thereafter decreasing trends of tree biomass with increasing elevation. Highest biomass of 95 mg/t (GEDI derived) and Field measured Biomass of 129.44 mg/t was observed at intermediate elevation of 530 m after that showed decline in biomass distribution. Elevation can act as a dominant determinant for AGB in tropical forest for several reasons, such as topographic variations, temperature variations, precipitation patterns, soil nutrient availability, species adaptation, disturbance regimes, and most influencing one is human activities. Therefore, elevation can be a crucial predictor in conjunction with other factors to influence biomass at undisturbed places with high slopes and controlled species richness, distribution and biomass accumulation in tree species. Highlights: 1. Elevation effects species distribution and richness (in conjunction with bioclimatic factors). 2. Highest biomass of 95 mg/t (GEDI derived) and Field measured Biomass of 129.44 mg/t was observed at intermediate elevation of 530 m after that declining trend in biomass distribution (elevation ranges from 262 m to 721m). 3. Topographical and Bioclimatic variables' relationship against biomass and biodiversity index. 4. Cloud computing applications (GGE) provide datasets for fast analysis and outcomes for local and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]