Mapping the Spatial Patterns of Biodiversity Along the Alpine Treeline Ecotone in the Eastern Himalaya Using Information Theory

Climatic variability causes loss of biodiversity in high-elevation ecosystems. Monitoring of biodiversity along the temperature-sensitive treeline ecotone in the Himalaya is necessary. The applications of information theory in understanding the patterns of biodiversity along the alpine treeline ecotone in the Himalaya are highlighted in the chapter. Spatially explicit monitoring of plant biodiversity using satellite remote sensing imagery and information theory was conducted. alpha-and beta-diversity were estimated using high-resolution imagery of the MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) onboard the Sentinel-2A satellite. The relationship between topography and biodiversity along the treeline ecotone in the Eastern Himalaya was studied. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference in the spectral Shannon's entropy along the gradients of elevation, slope, and summits' aspects. The highest biodiversity (Shannon's entropy, 3.04) was observed in the 4000 to 4500 m elevation range. The chapter concludes with the limitations and prospects of remote sensing biodiversity along the treeline ecotone in the Himalaya from space.