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Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody...
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Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody Plant Species and Biodiversity Conservation

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Meteorology and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5607

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kostas Kougioumoutzis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Botany, Department of Biology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Interests: biogeography; biodiversity; extinction risk; island biodiversity; island biogeography; conservation biogeography; conservation biology; conservation ecology; plant diversity; species distribution modelling; plant systematics; biodiversity and climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant biodiversity, encompassing over 400,000 known taxa with approximately 2000 new species described annually, faces unprecedented challenges in the Anthropocene. This remarkable diversity, distributed heterogeneously across the globe, is experiencing accelerated decline due to human activities. Since the Industrial Revolution, biodiversity loss has been documented across all levels—taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional, and genetic—primarily due to habitat degradation and fragmentation. Contemporary pressures, including climate change, land use transformation, and elevated extinction rates, are reshaping ecosystem dynamics, promoting biotic homogenization, and disrupting established species interactions.

The Mediterranean region, recognized as the world's second largest biodiversity hotspot, stands at a critical juncture. This region harbors an exceptional concentration of vulnerable taxa and is projected to experience some of the most severe impacts of climate and land use change. Despite numerous conservation initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing extinction crisis, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding which plant species are most threatened, their geographic distribution, and the underlying causes of their vulnerability.

This Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of plant diversity patterns and conservation challenges in the Mediterranean basin. We welcome contributions addressing various aspects, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Species distribution modeling under climate change scenarios;
  • Impact assessment of land use changes on plant communities;
  • Conservation genetics and population dynamics;
  • Ecosystem service evaluation of threatened plant species;
  • Novel conservation strategies and management approaches;
  • Historical biogeography and phylogenetic studies;
  • Ethnobotanical research on socio-economically important taxa;
  • Restoration ecology and habitat rehabilitation;
  • Policy implications for biodiversity conservation.

By bringing together cutting-edge research across various scales—from molecular to ecosystem levels—this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and preserving Mediterranean plant diversity in an era of rapid environmental change.

Dr. Kostas Kougioumoutzis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity patterns
  • conservation biology and prioritization
  • ecosystems services
  • ethnobotany
  • extinction risk
  • genetic, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity
  • plant–pollinator networks
  • phylogeography
  • physiology
  • species distribution modelling

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2501 KB  
Article
Change in Potential Suitable Areas and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Robinia pseudoacacia Plantations in the “Ω”-Shaped Bend of the Yellow River Under Climate Change
by Qiangqiang Shi, Dongli Wang, Jinlin Zhang, Wei Xie, Jianjun Guo and Jiaxi Tang
Forests 2026, 17(3), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17030317 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 260
Abstract
Robinia pseudoacacia is a major tree species for soil and water conservation afforestation in the “Three-North” Region, with crucial ecological improvement and carbon sequestration functions. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of suitable areas and carbon storage of R. pseudoacacia plantations under [...] Read more.
Robinia pseudoacacia is a major tree species for soil and water conservation afforestation in the “Three-North” Region, with crucial ecological improvement and carbon sequestration functions. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of suitable areas and carbon storage of R. pseudoacacia plantations under different future climate scenarios, further reveal the changing trend of their carbon sequestration potential, and provide a scientific basis for the rational layout and sustainable management of R. pseudoacacia plantations in the “Ω”-shaped bend of the Yellow River. Based on the MaxEnt model, we predicted the potential suitable distribution of R. pseudoacacia under future climate change scenarios, identified the potentially threatened geographical distribution regions and area changes in R. pseudoacacia, and clarified the limiting factors affecting the potential geographical distribution of R. pseudoacacia plantations by analyzing the contribution rates and permutation importance of comprehensive environmental variables. Combined with the InVEST model, we estimated and analyzed the spatial distribution of carbon storage in R. pseudoacacia plantations in the 2090s. The results showed that the minimum temperature of the coldest month was the main environmental factor affecting the distribution of potential suitable areas of R. pseudoacacia plantations, with a contribution rate of 46.98%, followed by annual precipitation. Under current climatic conditions, the potential suitable areas of R. pseudoacacia plantations were mainly distributed in the Loess Plateau, Hetao Plain, Ordos Plateau, Kubuqi Desert, and northern Mu Us Sandy Land. The highly suitable areas were mainly concentrated in the south-central part of the Loess Plateau, accounting for approximately 22.81% of the total area of the “Ω”-shaped bend of the Yellow River. Under future climate change, the moderately and highly suitable areas tended to shift northwestward. Under the four future climate scenarios, the carbon storage and carbon density of R. pseudoacacia plantations showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing; by 2100, the carbon storage reached the maximum under the SSP370 scenario, and the areas with medium-to-high carbon storage first expanded and then contracted, mainly concentrated in the Ordos Plateau and Loess Plateau. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody Plant Species and Biodiversity Conservation)
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23 pages, 2475 KB  
Article
Potential Distribution of Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem. in China Under Climate Change Based on an Optimized MaxEnt Model and Quality Suitability Regionalization Analysis
by Huixin Hu, Qi Xu, Yuanping Xia, Duan Huang, Ping Li and Xiaoqing Wang
Forests 2026, 17(2), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17020229 - 8 Feb 2026
Viewed by 425
Abstract
The dried leaves of Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used for the treatment of tonsillitis, sore throat, throat arthralgia, and novel coronavirus pneumonia. This plant possesses significant medicinal, economic, and ecological values. Assessing its distribution patterns and [...] Read more.
The dried leaves of Turpinia arguta (Lindl.) Seem, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, have been used for the treatment of tonsillitis, sore throat, throat arthralgia, and novel coronavirus pneumonia. This plant possesses significant medicinal, economic, and ecological values. Assessing its distribution patterns and its response to global climate change is critical for the conservation and sustainable use of its resources. This study used GIS technology and ENMTools v1.3 to select 247 distribution records of T. arguta and employed the kuenm R package (running on R v4.4.3, package version 2.0.1) to optimize the MaxEnt model parameters. Based on current and future climate data, this study predicted the current and future potential suitable areas of T. arguta in China during the periods of the 2050s (2041–2060), 2070s (2061–2080), and 2090s (2081–2100) under three SSP emission scenarios (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585). Additionally, it identified the key environmental variables driving its distribution patterns and conducted a quality suitability regionalization analysis using sample chemical content data. The results show that under current climatic conditions, the highly suitable areas for T. arguta are mainly distributed across five provinces: Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Hunan. The distribution of T. arguta is primarily influenced by precipitation and temperature. The suitable ranges of key environmental variables are as follows: average temperature in September > 26 °C (optimal range: 28–32 °C), precipitation in April 175–250 mm, precipitation in September 100–160 mm, annual mean temperature 20–30 °C (optimal range > 22.5 °C), and annual precipitation 1500–2000 mm (peak value: 1750 mm). Quality analysis reveals a positive correlation between ligustroflavone content and the mean diurnal temperature range, as well as between rhoifolin content and soil sand content. Compared with current suitable areas, the total suitable areas of T. arguta are projected to contract by varying degrees across all scenarios in the future. This study will provide a robust scientific basis for guiding the sustainable development/utilization of its resources and optimizing artificial cultivation practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody Plant Species and Biodiversity Conservation)
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20 pages, 5801 KB  
Article
Effect of Temperature on Germination and Distribution of Pinus ayacahuite Ehrenb. ex Schltdl. Under Climate Change Scenarios in Mexico
by Luis V. Pedrero-López, Salvador Sampayo-Maldonado, Mixtli Y. Nabor-Vazquez, María E. Sánchez-Coronado, Alma Orozco-Segovia, Patricia Dávila Aranda, Daniel Cabrera-Santos, Isela Rodríguez-Arévalo, Diana C. Acosta-Rojas and Cesar M. Flores-Ortíz
Forests 2025, 16(12), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16121833 - 8 Dec 2025
Viewed by 608
Abstract
Pinus ayacahuite is an important species for reforestation in Mexico, as it is a pioneer species in open areas. Its regeneration could be threatened by rising temperatures. The effect of a temperature gradient on germination was analyzed, and potential distribution projections of climate [...] Read more.
Pinus ayacahuite is an important species for reforestation in Mexico, as it is a pioneer species in open areas. Its regeneration could be threatened by rising temperatures. The effect of a temperature gradient on germination was analyzed, and potential distribution projections of climate change scenarios were modeled at various time scales. Seeds were collected in Huayacocotla, Veracruz; these were germinated under nine constant temperatures (5–45 °C). Germination parameters, cardinal temperatures, and thermal time were estimated using a Gaussian model. Germination occurred between 10 and 40 °C, with optimal, base, and ceiling temperatures of 27 °C, 10 °C, and 42 °C, respectively, and a thermal time (Tt50) of 118.5 °C d−1. Based on climate change projections (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5), NASA’s GISS-E2-1-G model predicts temperature increases from 1.1 to 2.3 °C by 2050 and from 1.7 to 3.6 °C by 2090, which would accelerate germination by 12.9–25 days. However, the species’ potential distribution is projected to decline by 15%–22%, primarily in southern states such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Puebla, although it could shift to new suitable areas in Tamaulipas and Nuevo León. These results suggest that while higher temperatures may favor earlier germination, water availability will remain the main limiting factor for successful establishment. Integrating physiological parameters into distribution models offers a stronger foundation for seed storage, conservation, and reforestation strategies in the face of changing climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody Plant Species and Biodiversity Conservation)
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21 pages, 3397 KB  
Article
Climate-Driven Habitat Shifts and Conservation Implications for the Submediterranean Oak Quercus pyrenaica Willd.
by Isabel Passos, Carlos Vila-Viçosa, João Gonçalves, Albano Figueiredo and Maria Margarida Ribeiro
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081226 - 25 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3372
Abstract
Climate change poses a major threat to forests, impacting the distribution and viability of key species. Quercus pyrenaica Willd., a marcescent oak endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and southwestern France and a structural species in submediterranean forests, is particularly susceptible [...] Read more.
Climate change poses a major threat to forests, impacting the distribution and viability of key species. Quercus pyrenaica Willd., a marcescent oak endemic to the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) and southwestern France and a structural species in submediterranean forests, is particularly susceptible to shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns. Aiming to assess its potential loss of suitable area under future climate scenarios, we developed high-resolution spatial distribution models to project the future habitat suitability of Q. pyrenaica under two climate change scenarios (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) for the periods 2070 and 2100. Our model, which has an excellent predictive performance (AUC of 0.971 and a TSS of 0.834), indicates a predominantly northward shift in the potential distribution of the species, accompanied by substantial habitat loss in southern and lowland regions. Long-term potential suitable area may shrink to 42% of that currently available. This, combined with the limited natural dispersal capacity of the species, highlights the urgency of targeted management and conservation strategies. These results offer critical insights to inform conservation strategies and forest management under ongoing climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate and Land-Use Change Effects on the Biogeography of Woody Plant Species and Biodiversity Conservation)
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