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Review

Hero or Villain: The Importance and Impacts of the Genus Juniperus on Ecosystems

by
Cayetano Navarrete-Molina
1,*,
María A. Sariñana-Navarrete
2,
Cesar A. Meza-Herrera
3,
Ángeles De Santiago-Miramontes
1,
José L. Rodriguez-Alvarez
4,
Raúl A. Cuevas-Jacquez
4,
Luis M. Valenzuela-Núñez
5,
Ricardo I. Ramírez-Gottfried
1,
Edir Torres-Rodriguez
1 and
Rubén I. Marín-Tinoco
6,7,*
1
Laguna Unit, Antonio Narro Agrarian Autonomous University, Torreon 27054, Coahuila, Mexico
2
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Technological University of Rodeo, Rodeo 35760, Durango, Mexico
3
Regional Universitary Unit on Arid Lands, Chapingo Autonomous University, Bermejillo 35230, Durango, Mexico
4
Campus Region of the Llanos, National Technological of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria 34700, Durango, Mexico
5
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Gomez Palacio 35010, Durango, Mexico
6
Postdoctoral Stay Program, Secretary of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation, Benito Juarez 03940, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
7
Rural Hospital No. 162, Mexican Social Security Institute, Rodeo 35760, Durango, Mexico
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030023
Submission received: 22 November 2025 / Revised: 12 March 2026 / Accepted: 16 March 2026 / Published: 23 March 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology and Biodiversity)
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Abstract

The genus Juniperus species is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet Earth. These species are notable for their ability to adapt to extreme environmental conditions, playing a crucial role in ecosystem structure and function. Currently, their expansion is being driven by anthropogenic activities and climate change, posing significant challenges for both control and conservation. The objective of this review was to synthesize the available evidence regarding the ecological importance and impacts of Juniperus on ecosystems, promoting a holistic perspective that contributes to the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A systematic literature search was conducted using the Scopus database, and only the documents published between 2001 and 2025 were considered for the investigation. The results showed that these species possess a high ecological versatility, favoring their invasive success in disturbed ecosystems, particularly under the influence of climate change and land-use changes. Conversely, Juniperus species facilitate positive ecological outcomes by providing essential ecosystem services that benefit both the human population and the flora and fauna present in these ecosystems. Nevertheless, their expansion also causes negative effects, such as the suppression of herbaceous shrubs and understory cover, alteration of the hydrological function, and accelerated soil erosion, among others. Consequently, the genus Juniperus exhibits a dual ecological role, acting as a hero to many species within these ecosystems, yet a villain to others. In this sense, given its remarkable adaptive dynamism under scenarios of climate change and continuous anthropogenic alterations, it is imperative to promote comprehensive conservation and restoration strategies. These should include ecological monitoring, invasive species control, genetic management, and habitat restoration. Such efforts must be supported by long-term interdisciplinary research to understand and mitigate the ecological, genetic, and social impacts resulting from its expansion. Furthermore, these investigations and strategies must be flexible and locally contextualized to promote genuine ecosystem resilience in the face of the ongoing environmental transformations.

1. Introduction

The genus Juniperus L. (Cupressaceae Bartl.) represents one of the most diverse and widely distributed groups of conifers in the world, comprising approximately 75 recognized species [1,2,3]. These evergreen trees or shrubs, commonly known as “táscate”, “cypress”, “enebro” or “juniper”, inhabit temperate and arid ecosystems ranging from mountainous regions to coastal zones across the Northern Hemisphere [2,3] where they play a vital role in vegetation cover [4,5]. Juniperus species exhibit an exceptional adaptability to extreme climatic conditions, high salinity, and water stress, allowing them to colonize nutrient-poor soils. This characteristic positions them as a key component for ecological stability and the mitigation of desertification [6,7,8,9,10,11]. Such adaptability enables these species to occupy critical ecological niches, where they fulfill essential structural and functional roles in ecosystem dynamics [12,13,14,15]. Beyond their ecological functions, Juniperus species exhibit a notable ethnobotanic importance. Their use has been documented across multiple cultures and industries, including the pharmaceutical and food sectors. They are particularly noted for their reservoir of bioactive compounds, which have been associated with multiple therapeutic properties [2,16,17,18].
Furthermore, the genus plays a vital role in biodiversity conservation by providing invaluable ecosystem services, such as habitat stabilization and the provision of food and resources for numerous wildlife species [13,16,19,20]. Consequently, Juniperus species function as ecological modulators, influencing the surrounding animal and vegetal biodiversity [21,22,23]. In this context, the Juniperus species also stabilizes and enriches the trophic networks by creating microclimates that buffer extreme temperatures and improve soil fertility through the accumulation of organic matter and nutrients, forming “fertility islands” that support diverse plant communities, especially in disturbed areas [21]. However, negative effects have also been reported, including reductions in plant species richness [24], alterations of hydrological functions, increased water runoff, and the exacerbation of soil erosion [25]. Given this duality, several research groups have reported mixed results regarding biodiversity in areas invaded by Juniperus species, particularly in the United States [26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35]. Furthermore, these species face significant challenges due to anthropogenic activities, climate change, and habitat loss, emphasizing the urgent need for research about their ethnobotanic importance, their biology, ecology, and their conservation strategies [6,36,37,38].
Considering these growing challenges, it is essential to understand both the positive and negative impacts of Juniperus on biodiversity to develop sustainable management and conservation strategies [6,37]. Analyzing the associated benefits and risks is particularly critical in a global context marked by climate change, anthropogenic expansion, and habitat degradation. In this regard, the objective of this review was to analyze the available evidence concerning the ethnobotanical importance and ecological impact (i.e., positive and negative) of Juniperus on biodiversity. Specifically, the information generated during the first quarter of the 21st century was analyzed and synthesized to improve the understanding of these species as potential modulators of ecosystem biodiversity. Moreover, this work promotes a holistic and sustainable perspective aligned with the productive, economic, social, environmental, and cultural objectives, thus supporting the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [39,40,41,42].

2. Methodological Strategy

To achieve the objective of this review, a bibliometric research design was employed, following the recommendations proposed by Ali and Deryanur [43]. The Scopus database was selected as the primary search engine, considering that it is open access and provides extensive multidisciplinary data coverage, advanced search functionalities, and preliminary analysis tools [44]. Compared with other databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus offers broader journal coverage, making it a superior option for interdisciplinary and international research assessments [45,46].
The following search string was used to compile the information presented in this study:
(TITLE-ABS-KEY (Juniperus) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY (use) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY (impact)) AND PUBYEAR > 2000 AND PUBYEAR < 2026.
The search included a publication-year filter to select only studies published between 2001 and 2025. This search strategy retrieved a total of 737 publications, which constituted the overall sample of the study. For the bibliometric analysis, Scopus built-in tools were employed to analyze publication year, subject areas, citations, sources, authors, and affiliations. For the thematic analysis, the Biblioshiny tool was utilized, which is a web application integrated into the R package: Bibliometrix [47]. The use of Biblioshiny as a bibliometric analysis tool is justified by its effectiveness in quantifying and visualizing scientific production, particularly for users without programming knowledge. Considering that the output information generated in Biblioshiny only includes lowercase words, the images were edited with Photoshop V26.4.1; the above was done with the aim of improving the quality of the information. In this regard, the information was organized according to productivity indicators (annual distribution of publications, institutions, countries, and sources), and the conceptual structure of the data was visualized through a keyword co-occurrence analysis and the density of those occurrences [43].

3. General Characteristics of the Publications

Given that conducting a bibliometric analysis was not the main objective of this review, a brief descriptive summary of the principal publication patterns observed during the study period (2001–2025) is presented. In this context, Figure 1 illustrates the annual publication trend, showing that scientific production on this topic initially progressed at a slow pace, with a noticeable increase becoming evident after 2004. Although some fluctuations were observed, a clear upward trend in annual publication outputs is evident throughout the period analyzed. Additionally, it was determined that 50% of all publications were produced during the last eight years of the study period (i.e., 2018–2025). Regarding the three main types of documents published, 93.08% were research articles (686), 3.12% were review papers (23), and 2.31% were conference papers (17). Figure 2 presents the journals that published ten or more documents on the topic, highlighting Rangeland Ecology and Management and Forest Ecology and Management as the journals that have published the highest number of studies in this research area. As expected, English was the dominant publication language, accounting for 96.74% of all documents (713). Complementarily, Figure 3 presents a three-field plot illustrating the relationships between authors’ countries, authors, and publishing journals, where authors from the United States stand out markedly in comparison to those from other countries.
Regarding author productivity, the most prolific researchers (i.e., more than 10 publications) were led by McDowell, N. G., with 15 documents, followed by Pockman, W. T., Camarero, J. J., and Tinner, W., with 13, 11, and 11 documents, respectively. In line with these findings, an analysis of collaboration networks reveals that these authors constitute the largest collaboration nodes for studies addressing the genus Juniperus (Figure 4). Furthermore, authors’ affiliations with the most relevant universities and/or research institutions in the published literature on this topic were identified as: the USDA Forest Service (USA), USDA Agricultural Research Service (USA), Oklahoma State University (USA), the Spanish National Research Council (Spain), the United States Department of Agriculture (USA), Oregon State University (USA), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), Northern Arizona University (USA), and the University of New Mexico (USA), with 34, 31, 30, 29, 29, 26, 25, 24, and 21 publications, respectively (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4).
An analysis of the countries’ scientific output showed that five nations accounted for 53.26% of the total production: the United States (320, 30.65%), Spain (82, 7.85%), China (66, 6.32%), Germany (49, 4.69%), and Switzerland (39, 3.74%). In this context, Figure 5 presents a global collaboration map for the study period (2001–2025), highlighting strong collaborative relationships among the United States, China, and Europe, with color intensity proportional to each country’s scientific productivity; for instance, the United States is shown in dark blue, indicating its position as the most productive country. Additionally, Figure 6 shows two perspectives on the most frequent terms used in titles and keywords for research published on the genus Juniperus during the analyzed period. This analysis confirms that the word Juniperus (451, 15.21%) was the most prevalent, followed by climate change (140, 4.72%), Juniperus communis (128, 4.32%), coniferous tree (123, 4.15%), and forestry (102, 3.44%).

4. Diversity and Taxonomy of the Genus Juniperus

The genus Juniperus represents the second largest genus of conifers and the largest within the Cupressaceae family, comprising approximately 75 species divided into three monophyletic sections [48,49]. The Caryocedrus section includes a single dioecious taxon, J. drupacea, native to Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria [50]. The Juniperus section consists of 14 species, of which 12 are distributed in the Eastern Hemisphere, along with J. jackii (endemic to North America) and the circumboreal species J. communis [48]. Meanwhile, the Sabina section encompasses approximately 60 species distributed across Asia, Africa, southwestern North America, and the Mediterranean region [51]. Based on the concordance between phylogenetic results and morphological characteristics, the genus Juniperus sensu lato has been divided into three genera: Juniperus sensu stricto (sect. Juniperus), Sabina (sect. Sabina), and Arceuthos (sect. Caryocedrus) [52]. The richness of the species observed in this genus is likely associated with key innovations that provide evolutionary advantages for adapting to new environments or in situ habitat changes. As described for other species, these attributes have facilitated the occupation of new adaptive zones [53,54,55,56,57,58,59]. Notable examples of key innovations include seed dispersal during early divergence [59,60] and the development of fleshy fruits [61]. Furthermore, these traits can contribute to the creation of ecological niches, improved individual fitness, rapid diversification, and the expansion of the species’ geographic distribution [52,62,63].
The extensive distribution of Juniperus has likely been influenced by long-distance dispersal and migration across land bridges [64]. It is believed that the genus originated in Eurasia during the Eocene as part of the Tethyan vegetation [51]. Currently, Juniperus species are prominent components of arid and semi-arid landscapes throughout the Northern Hemisphere, possessing significant ecological and economic importance [49]. Their distribution ranges from sea level to above the tree line [51,65]. Although most species preferentially grow on limestone substrates, several taxa grow on granite, sand dunes, and sandstone, with habitats ranging from deserts to swamps [49]. This broad ecological diversity, in contrast with other genera within the Cupressaceae family, can be attributed to key evolutionary traits such as the development of fleshy and berry-like female cones and the dioecious nature of the plants [66]. Additionally, Juniperus has undergone a relatively high frequency of polyploidization events compared to other conifers, with at least 15% of the taxa being tetraploid [67]. Significant morphological variations between the three sections, including leaf shape, female cone size, texture, and color, further maximize the genus’s adaptability to diverse environments [48,50].

5. Ecology and Functions of the Genus Juniperus in Ecosystems

The genus Juniperus exhibits a wide range of ecological characteristics reflecting its adaptability to diverse environments, primarily driven by morphological diversity and reproductive dynamics [68,69]. For instance, J. sabina shows low variability in the morphology of its vegetative organs, a trait associated with its adaptive capacity to arid conditions [68]. Similarly, J. drupacea thrives in mountainous regions, demonstrating significant resilience to frost and drought [6]. Reproductive dynamics, such as sexual dimorphism, observed in certain species, also play a critical role in the genus’ ecology. These dynamics directly impact seed production and regeneration, with a notable decrease in reproductive trees due to aging, as reported for J. thurifera [70]. In contrast, J. foetidissima faces challenges, including low seed viability and unbalanced male-to-female ratios, which affect its reproductive success [71]. In this context, the literature indicates that the Juniperus species exhibit remarkable ecological versatility, with adaptive traits that enable proliferation under adverse climatic conditions and in nutrient-poor soils [10,11]. These findings highlight adaptive capacities often associated with the success of invasive species [13,72]. Furthermore, the expansion of Juniperus has been linked to the reduction in grassland areas, inevitably affecting fodder resources, avifauna composition, and ecosystem services [19,20,21,34,35].
Climate change and anthropogenic activities, particularly land-use changes, facilitate the expansion of Juniperus. These factors have triggered altitudinal migrations and phenological changes, promoting increased Juniperus cover, particularly in semi-arid ecosystems [68,69,73]. This expansion is further amplified by key innovations, such as fleshy fruits, dioecy, and polyploidy, among others [61,67], which enhance adaptive capacity and colonization potential across diverse environments [48,50]. However, studies consistently agree that this remarkable adaptive capacity presents significant challenges for biodiversity conservation, especially in environmentally disturbed contexts where Juniperus can rapidly establish and expand [7,9,68,69]. Moreover, evidence suggests that climate change could increase the distribution range of Juniperus, intensifying their ecological impacts by facilitating the colonization of new niches and increasing competition with other native species [3,6,11,37,73]. Despite this expansive potential, several Juniperus species are currently considered threatened [36,37,38,70].

6. Ethnobotanical Importance of the Genus Juniperus

Aside from their ecological functions, species of the genus Juniperus also exhibit an important ethnobotanical role around the world, with multiple applications in medicine, food, and essential oils. These species are particularly notable for their reservoir of bioactive compounds [2,18], which are associated with a wide range of therapeutic properties (Table 1).
Furthermore, several Juniperus species are used in home and property decoration, housing construction, and are even considered sacred trees in certain regions [108,109,110,111]. Similarly, their wood is used for fuel, charcoal production, and the crafting of small decorative items [4,112]. In addition to their therapeutic uses, essential oils extracted from leaves and fruits are employed in the formulation of cosmetic products [113]. Species such as J. virginiana are utilized in the creation of windbreaks and fence rows and are also processed to produce furniture, lumber, and pencils [113]. Although these species may lack direct nutritional value for humans, they are of significant importance to wildlife; various species of birds, small mammals, and deer consume their fruits, particularly within grassland ecosystems [114]. However, the stability of these ethnobotanical relationships faces challenges derived from anthropogenic intervention and climate change [6,36,37,38].

7. Impacts on Biodiversity by the Genus Juniperus

Species of the genus Juniperus interact with other organisms within their ecosystems through a complex balance of competition and facilitation, which fluctuates according to environmental conditions and the developmental stage of the Juniperus plants [22]. One example of these interactions, which has undoubtedly influenced their colonization dynamics, involves the combination of seed production and highly efficient endozoochorous dispersal. This dispersal is mediated by a diverse group of birds and mammals, resulting in an exceptionally effective seed dissemination [100,113,114,115]. In this context, birds typically function as primary dispersers in forested areas, whereas mammals assume a more significant role in open habitats [116,117]. Furthermore, Juniperus species exhibit a remarkable tolerance to herbivory [118,119,120,121]. However, these ecological interactions often yield dual outcomes; consequently, it is essential to clearly differentiate between the positive and negative impacts of Juniperus on biodiversity.

7.1. Positive Impacts on Biodiversity

Table 2 summarizes the main positive impacts reported for the genus Juniperus on biodiversity in ecosystems.

7.2. Negative Impacts on Biodiversity

Table 3 summarizes the main negative impacts reported for the genus Juniperus on biodiversity in ecosystems.
Given this ecological duality, it is crucial to emphasize the need for balanced management strategies that mitigate negative impacts while acknowledging the potential ecological roles of Juniperus.

8. Management and Conservation Challenges of the Genus Juniperus

As mentioned above, species of the genus Juniperus play a key ecological role in the ecosystems they dominate globally [10,20,29,51,65]. However, Juniperus dominated landscapes are increasingly threatened by various challenges that compromise their capacity to support biodiversity [11,128,129,132]. A major concern is habitat fragmentation, driven primarily by anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development. This fragmentation reduces connectivity between flora and fauna populations, limiting genetic exchange and increasing the vulnerability of native species [130]. Other human pressures include overgrazing and overexploitation, such as indiscriminate logging, which have resulted in significant soil degradation, hindering the natural regeneration of Juniperus species and altering the structural and functional integrity of ecosystems [6,14,15,37,70,129].
Furthermore, the invasion of exotic species represents a significant threat to Juniperus communities across various regions. These invasive taxa alter ecological dynamics by competing for critical resources such as water, nutrients, and light, displacing native species and reducing biodiversity [13,72]. Similarly, the effects of climate change, particularly variations in temperature and precipitation patterns, exacerbate the challenges faced by Juniperus species. These changes directly influence the distribution and survival of species, including Juniperus itself. For example, water stress and extreme temperatures have been proven to threaten the natural regeneration of Juniperus dominated ecosystems, negatively impacting the associated species [37,70,128,135]. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the dual role of these species as their excessive proliferation can also threaten biodiversity in the ecosystems they inhabit [6,22,36,37]. In specific areas, the dominance of Juniperus has been associated with the suppression of growth and reduced species coexistence [2,11,132]. The ability of this genus to establish in poor-nutrient soils and compete effectively for resources such as water and light makes it highly competitive [6,7,9,11]. This monopolization of resources can lead to landscape homogenization, decreasing the structural diversity of the habitat, and compromising the survival of herbaceous and shrubby species that depend on heterogeneous conditions [24,25,34,124,125,133]. Moreover, Juniperus dominance has been shown to alter soil microorganisms, which are essential for organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling [21,22,25,70].
Given these findings, several challenges arise for biodiversity conservation in Juniperus dominated areas. A critical challenge lies in the implementation of long-term monitoring programs to assess ecosystem health [37,70,128]. Additionally, ecological restoration programs are also required, prioritizing reforestation with native species and controlling invasive species, to mitigate biodiversity loss in areas invaded by Juniperus [11,37,72]. The preservation of genetic variability within Juniperus populations is equally crucial for ensuring adaptability to fluctuating environmental changes. In this regard, seed banks and specialized nursery gardens can play a key role in these conservation efforts [6,7,9,11,68,69]. Other challenges include establishing policies that regulate the sustainable use of ecosystem resources, the creation of protected areas, and the promotion of agroforestry practices, to help in the mitigation of anthropogenic impacts on natural resources [11,37,38,128]. Achieving these goals also requires improving public awareness about the importance of biodiversity in ecosystems, both before and after the Juniperus invasion [72,128,136,137]. Educational and training programs can further encourage a more harmonious relationship between local communities and these ecosystems [37,72,128,137].

9. Research Perspectives and Gaps on the Genus Juniperus

As mentioned above, many species of the genus Juniperus play positive ecological roles; however, some exhibit invasive behavior outside their natural ranges, a phenomenon that has garnered growing interest within the scientific community [24,25,35,130,131]. In this context, the genetic characteristics of this genus are of particular interest, as certain genetic traits, such as specific DNA markers, have been linked to the invasive potential of some Juniperus species. For example, genotyping techniques have revealed that certain populations possess genetic variants that enhance tolerance to water stress, extreme temperatures, and nutrient-poor soils [36,73,126,137,138,139]. Furthermore, molecular genetic studies have elucidated dispersal patterns and gene flow, allowing the identification of propagation sources and factors contributing to invasion success. This knowledge is crucial for understanding the adaptive capacity and evolutionary responses to climate change and anthropogenic pressures [51,53,58,73,140,141,142]. Despite these advances, many Juniperus species remain poorly studied, particularly those with restricted distributions or found in less-explored regions. Therefore, further research using genotyping and molecular-level approaches is urgently needed.
The invasion of ecosystems by Juniperus has been associated with alterations in both biotic and abiotic components, positioning the genus as a key driver of soil–plant–animal interactions in invaded areas [11,13,14,15,22,25,37,72,128]. However, there is still a limited understanding of how variations in disturbance regimes affect plant–animal interactions across different species and regions. Additionally, it is necessary to investigate how these interactions are influenced by climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressures. Significant knowledge gaps also remain regarding the impact of genus Juniperus invasions on biogeochemical cycles, particularly carbon and nitrogen cycles. This includes examining the influence of biomass accumulation and leaf chemistry on soil dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions [143,144,145,146,147,148]. Therefore, assessing the potential of Juniperus species to act as carbon sinks, especially in marginal ecosystems, could provide valuable insights for ecological restoration and conservation strategies. Although plant–animal interactions have been documented in ecosystems invaded by Juniperus, their long-term evolutionary dynamics remain largely unexplored [29,31,32,33,34,35,70]. Future studies should integrate remote sensing data and climate projections to predict potential range expansions and evaluate ecosystem-level impacts.
Consequently, further research is needed to develop management strategies based on landscape ecology, which may include the reintroduction of prescribed fire regimes, hydrological management, and the replanting of competitive native species [7,72,149]. Similarly, investigating how variations in interaction networks influence ecosystem resilience to future disturbances is essential [150,151]. Addressing these knowledge gaps requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative research approach, examining not only the negative impact of juniper invasions on biodiversity but also their potential contributions to ecosystem services, including ethnobotanical services, and the human communities that depend on these systems [136,148,149,150,151,152,153,154]. Achieving meaningful progress will necessitate robust collaborations between disciplines such as ecology, genetics, and the social sciences [6,37]. Only through such coordinated efforts can the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems be guaranteed for future generations [39,40,41,42].

10. Conclusions

The analysis of the available literature demonstrates that species of the genus Juniperus generate a duality of effects on the biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems, and that managing their populations is a highly challenging task. Evidence suggests an increase in their distribution range. Therefore, regional and local research with an interdisciplinary and sustainable approach is required, linking ecological knowledge with social acceptance of the need to control or protect these species. The results of this research should form the basis for designing solutions and outreach efforts. Given that these species are dynamic and hold significant biological, economic, cultural, and ecological importance, making the genus Juniperus a hero to many species in ecosystems, and a villain to others.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, C.N.-M., M.A.S.-N. and C.A.M.-H.; methodology, C.N.-M., M.A.S.-N. and R.I.M.-T.; formal analysis, C.N.-M., M.A.S.-N. and L.M.V.-N.; investigation, Á.D.S.-M., J.L.R.-A., R.A.C.-J., R.I.R.-G. and E.T.-R.; resources, Á.D.S.-M., J.L.R.-A., R.I.R.-G. and E.T.-R.; writing—original draft preparation, R.I.M.-T., C.A.M.-H., R.A.C.-J. and L.M.V.-N.; writing—review and editing, C.N.-M., M.A.S.-N. and C.A.M.-H.; visualization, R.I.M.-T., C.A.M.-H. and L.M.V.-N.; supervision, Á.D.S.-M., J.L.R.-A., R.A.C.-J., R.I.R.-G. and E.T.-R.; project administration, C.N.-M., R.I.M.-T. and L.M.V.-N.; funding acquisition, Á.D.S.-M., J.L.R.-A. and R.A.C.-J.; supervision, C.N.-M., R.I.R.-G. and E.T.-R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Data Availability Statement

None of the data were deposited in an official repository, yet information can be made available upon request.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Science and Technology Council of the State of Durango for the support provided. Likewise, the authors thank the employees of the Technological University of Rodeo for the facilities provided for the development of this research. Additionally, the authors thank Lic. Francisco Gerardo Véliz-Romero for his support in the translation of the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Figure 1. Annual number of scientific publications on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 1. Annual number of scientific publications on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Figure 2. Main journals and number of documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 2. Main journals and number of documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Figure 3. Three-field plot considering the documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 3. Three-field plot considering the documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Figure 4. Principal collaboration networks among authors publishing on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 4. Principal collaboration networks among authors publishing on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Figure 5. Global country collaboration map for publications related to the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 5. Global country collaboration map for publications related to the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Figure 6. (a) Co-occurrence network and (b) word cloud of the most frequently used terms by the authors in the title and keywords of the documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
Figure 6. (a) Co-occurrence network and (b) word cloud of the most frequently used terms by the authors in the title and keywords of the documents published on the genus Juniperus from 2001 to 2025.
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Table 1. Therapeutic properties of bioactive compounds present in species of the genus Juniperus.
Table 1. Therapeutic properties of bioactive compounds present in species of the genus Juniperus.
Therapeutic PropertiesReference(s)
Neuroprotective and anticataleptic effects in Parkinson’s disease[74,75,76,77]
Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic[78,79,80,81,82,83]
Diuretic and anti-inflammatory[17]
Antioxidant[76,77,78,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92]
Antifungal[93,94,95,96]
Analgesic[97]
Antihypercholesterolemic[86,98]
Hepatoprotective[81,90,99]
Antimicrobial[84,91,92,100,101,102,103]
Antiviral[2,85]
Antibacterial[101,104,105,106]
Anticancer[85,88,107]
Asthma and dysmenorrhea[17]
Table 2. Positive impacts of genus Juniperus on ecosystem biodiversity.
Table 2. Positive impacts of genus Juniperus on ecosystem biodiversity.
ImpactReference(s)
Enhancement of habitat ecological stability[6,7]
Mitigation of desertification processes[8,9,10,11]
Provision of resources for wildlife species[13,16,19,20]
Improvement of trophic networks[7]
Creation of microclimates[10]
Improvement of soil quality and fertility[22,70]
Creation of “fertility islands”[21]
Improvement of hydrology[21]
Nurse-plant effects in some ecosystems[122,123,124,125,126]
Provision of diverse ecosystem services[13,34,35]
Table 3. Negative impacts of genus Juniperus on ecosystem biodiversity.
Table 3. Negative impacts of genus Juniperus on ecosystem biodiversity.
ImpactReference(s)
Reduction in plant species richness[24]
Alteration of hydrological functions[25]
Habitat fragmentation[6,34,37]
Exacerbation of soil erosion[25]
Reduction in grassland areas[34]
Negative alteration of ecosystem characteristics[12,13,14,15,35,127]
Modification of plant composition[2,6,7,9,11,37,128,129]
Inhibition of the growth of other species[11,37]
Alteration of fire regimes[2,11,37,128,129]
Reduce the diversity of native plant species[12,13,14,15]
Decrease in floristic richness and genetic variability[6,7,9,11,68,69,130]
Impediment of the movement of flora and fauna[6,34,37]
Disruption of natural regeneration processes[21,22,70]
Interference with critical ecological interactions (i.e., pollination)[27,28,29,30,31,32,33,37]
Population decline of specialized herbivores and pollinators[34,35,130,131]
Modification of the hydrological cycle[13,22,25,35,70,72]
Hindered the survival of fauna[13,16,19,20]
Perturbation of ecosystem processes[21,22,25,70]
Alteration of woody species population dynamics[22]
Monopolization of available resources[2,11,35,129,132]
Preferential establishment of woody over herbaceous species[24,25,133,134]
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Navarrete-Molina, C.; Sariñana-Navarrete, M.A.; Meza-Herrera, C.A.; De Santiago-Miramontes, Á.; Rodriguez-Alvarez, J.L.; Cuevas-Jacquez, R.A.; Valenzuela-Núñez, L.M.; Ramírez-Gottfried, R.I.; Torres-Rodriguez, E.; Marín-Tinoco, R.I. Hero or Villain: The Importance and Impacts of the Genus Juniperus on Ecosystems. Int. J. Plant Biol. 2026, 17, 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030023

AMA Style

Navarrete-Molina C, Sariñana-Navarrete MA, Meza-Herrera CA, De Santiago-Miramontes Á, Rodriguez-Alvarez JL, Cuevas-Jacquez RA, Valenzuela-Núñez LM, Ramírez-Gottfried RI, Torres-Rodriguez E, Marín-Tinoco RI. Hero or Villain: The Importance and Impacts of the Genus Juniperus on Ecosystems. International Journal of Plant Biology. 2026; 17(3):23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030023

Chicago/Turabian Style

Navarrete-Molina, Cayetano, María A. Sariñana-Navarrete, Cesar A. Meza-Herrera, Ángeles De Santiago-Miramontes, José L. Rodriguez-Alvarez, Raúl A. Cuevas-Jacquez, Luis M. Valenzuela-Núñez, Ricardo I. Ramírez-Gottfried, Edir Torres-Rodriguez, and Rubén I. Marín-Tinoco. 2026. "Hero or Villain: The Importance and Impacts of the Genus Juniperus on Ecosystems" International Journal of Plant Biology 17, no. 3: 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030023

APA Style

Navarrete-Molina, C., Sariñana-Navarrete, M. A., Meza-Herrera, C. A., De Santiago-Miramontes, Á., Rodriguez-Alvarez, J. L., Cuevas-Jacquez, R. A., Valenzuela-Núñez, L. M., Ramírez-Gottfried, R. I., Torres-Rodriguez, E., & Marín-Tinoco, R. I. (2026). Hero or Villain: The Importance and Impacts of the Genus Juniperus on Ecosystems. International Journal of Plant Biology, 17(3), 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb17030023

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