Plant phenology in major forest types of India: A review

Plant phenology has gained significant prominence due to its potential to assess the impacts of climate change on ecosystems. We documented the patterns of vegetative and reproductive phenology across major forest types in India, examined the factors influencing these patterns, identified knowledge gaps and suggested directions for future research. We collected data from published literature and followed the forest-type classification of Champion and Seth. The major forest types included in the study were moist tropical forests, dry tropical forests, montane subtropical forests, montane temperate forests, subalpine forests and alpine scrub. Summarising the phenology across Indian forest types proved to be difficult due to the lack of long-term, comparable datasets. In general, we identified that vegetative and reproductive phenology tended to be seasonal and driven by changes in abiotic variables. However, the influence of biotic factors remains largely unknown. We also highlighted the role of satellite remote sensing and near-surface remote sensing techniques in phenological research. Currently, the phenological responses of Indian forests to climate change are mainly unknown, necessitating studies that combine phenology, climate and biotic interactions. Finally, for India, we recommend establishing a phenology network that facilitates the effective integration of phenology data collected through multiple monitoring methods, thereby strengthening phenological studies shortly.