Abstract
The study explores the use of multiple criteria decision techniques in predicting spatial niche of Brown oak (also known as Kharsu oak, Quercus semecarpifolia Sm.) formation in midaltitude (2,400–3,500 meter amsl) Kumaun Himalaya. Predictive models using various climatic and topographical factors influencing Brown oak’s growth and survival were developed to define its current ecological niche. Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method involving Saaty’s pair-wise comparison was performed to rank the explanatory powers of each compared variable. Variables were suitably weighted using fuzzy factor standardization scheme to reflect their relative importance in defining species niche. An optimum indicator was then chosen for deriving a site suitability map of brown oak. This study establishes the role of aspect in the current distribution of the species along with known influence of altitude. Future niches of oak has been tracked in the projected climate change scenario of +1°C and +2°C rise in temperature and 20 mm in precipitation. The results show that on predicted +1°C and +2°C increase in temperature, present habitat of brown oak distribution may be reduced by 40 per cent and 76 per cent respectively.
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Saran, S., Joshi, R., Sharma, S. et al. Geospatial modeling of Brown oak (Quercus semecarpifolia) habitats in the Kumaun Himalaya under climate change scenario. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 38, 535–547 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-010-0038-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-010-0038-2