Biodiversity Conservation, Eco-Physiology, Functional Ecology and Climate Change Studies

Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=5w0YDPMAAAAJ

ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amit-Chawla/research 

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1476-9956.

ResearcherID: F-1372-2010

Scopus Author ID: 23487785400

Received State Level Recognition for excellent contributions in Conservation of Biodiversity for the year 2024-25; by HP State Biodiversity Board, Shimla 

Awarded Dr. D.S. Kothari Post-Doctoral Fellowship by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India in 2008.

Successfully competed in ‘National Eligibility Test’ by CSIR-UGC in year 2000 and 2001

1. Thakur, D. and Chawla, A.* 2025. Aspect outweighs elevation in influencing plant functioning at high elevations of Himalaya. Plant Ecology https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-025-01567-1 
2. Sharma, M.K. and Chawla, A*. 2025. Alpine plant species advance green-up but delay leaf senescence in response to experimental early snowmelt. Plant Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70121 
3. Sharma, M.K. and Chawla, A*. 2025. Elevation-dependent effects of early snowmelt on species and functional diversity in Himalayan alpine plant communities. Climatic Change 178:180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-025-04006-2 
4. Bhatt, A. and Chawla, A*. 2024. Distribution of plant species along the elevation gradient in Pangi, a high altitude and remote eco-region in Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Mountain Science 21(11): 3739-3753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8258-4 
5. Ram, B. and Chawla, A*. 2024. Dominant shrubs exhibit competitive interaction with herbaceous community which influences plant assemblages and functional composition in the alpine region of western Himalaya. Journal of Vegetation Science 35 (3), e13269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.13269 
6. Mehta, N. and Chawla, A*. 2024. Eco‑physiological trait variation in widely occurring species of Western Himalaya along elevational gradients reveals their high adaptive potential in stressful conditions. Photosynthesis Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-023-01071-5 
7. Sharma, M.K., Hopak, E. and Chawla, A*. 2024. Alpine plant species converge towards adopting elevation-specific resource-acquisition strategy in response to experimental early snow-melting. Science of the Total Environment 907:167906.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167906 
8. Sharma, M.K., Ram, B. and Chawla, A*. 2023. Ensemble modelling under multiple climate change scenarios predicts reduction in highly suitable range of habitats of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo in Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. South African Journal of Botany 154:203-218. 
9. Rathore, N., Kumar, P., Mehta, N., Swarnkar, M.K., Shankar, R*. and Chawla, A*. 2022. Time-series RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling reveals novel insights about cold acclimation and de-acclimation processes in an evergreen shrub of high altitude. Scientific Reports 12:1553.
10. Kumar*, R., Joshi, R., Kumar, R., Srivatsan, V., Satyakam, Chawla, A., Patial V. and Kumar, S. 2022. Nutritional quality evaluation and proteome profile of forage species of Western Himalaya. Grassland Science, pp1-12. DOI: 10.1111/grs.12357. IF1.44
11. Rathore, N., Thakur, D., Kumar, D., Chawla, A.* and Kumar, S. 2021. Time-series eco-metabolomics reveals extensive reshuffling in metabolome during transition from cold acclimation to de-acclimation in an alpine shrub. Physiologia Plantarum 173(4):1824-1840. IF5.081
12. Singh, L., Thakur, D., Sharma, M.K. and Chawla, A*. 2021. Dynamics of leaf litter decomposition in the timberline zone of western Himalaya. 111 (2021) 103715.  IF1.93.
13. Thakur, D., Rathore, N., Sharma, M.K., Parkash, O. and Chawla, A*. 2021. Identification of ecological factors affecting the occurrence and abundance of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo in the Himalaya. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 20 (2021) 100286.
14. Chawla, A., Kumar, A., Warghat, A., Singh, S., Bhushan, S., Sharma, R.K., Bhattacharya, A. and Kumar, S.*2020. Approaches for Conservation and Improvement of Himalayan Plant Genetic Resources. In: Tuteja, N., Tuteja, R., Passricha, N. and Saifi, S. (Eds.). Advancement in Crop Improvement Techniques. Woodhead Publishing, Elsevier Inc.
15. Thakur, D. and Chawla*, A. 2019. Functional diversity along elevational gradients in the high altitude vegetation of the western Himalaya. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28:1977–1996. IF 3.142
16. Thakur, D., Rathore, N. and Chawla*, A. 2019. Increase in light interception cost and metabolic mass component of leaves are coupled for efficient resource use in the high altitude vegetation. Oikos. 128: 254–263. IF3.71.
17. Rathore, N., Thakur, D. and Chawla*, A. 2018. Seasonal variations coupled with elevation gradient drives significant changes in eco-physiological and biogeochemical traits of a high altitude evergreen broadleaf shrub, Rhododendron anthopogon. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 132:708-719. IF3.404
18. Thakur, D., Rathore, N., Sharma, M.K. and Chawla*, A. 2018. Enhanced reproductive success revealed key strategy for persistence of devastated populations in Himalayan food deceptive orchid, Dactylorhiza hatagirea. Plant Species Biology, 33:191-202. IF2.07
19. Chawla, A*., Yadav, P.K., Uniyal, S.K., Kumar, A., Vats, S.K., Kumar, S. and Ahuja, P.S. 2012. Long-term ecological and biodiversity monitoring in the western Himalaya using satellite remote sensing. Current Science 102(8):1143-1156. IF0.756
20. Chawla, A*., Parkash, O., Sharma, V., Rajkumar, S., Lal, B., Gopichand, Singh, R.D. and Thukral, A.K. 2012. Vascular plants, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Checklist 8(3):321-348. IF0.4.

Ph.D. Students:

Pursuing: Elennie Hopak; Kajal Sandal; Harish Bharti; Rajesh Kumar; Amandeep Rathee

Completed: Dinesh Thakur; Nikita Rathore; Nandita Mehta; Manish Sharma; Bittu Ram; Anupam Bhatt; Lakhbeer Singh

Project Staff:

Harish Bharti (PA-II)