Tree Diversity Increases Forest Temperature Buffering via Enhancing Canopy Density and Structural Diversity

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. Forests may buffer extremes by creating their own attenuated microclimate below canopy, which maintains forest functioning biodiversity. However, effect tree diversity on temperature buffering in forests largely unexplored. Here, we show that species richness increases across temporal scales over six years a large‐scale experiment covering gradient 1 to 24 species. We found strengthened cooling hot insulation against cold daily monthly air temperatures This was mediated enhanced canopy density structural species‐rich stands. Safeguarding planting diverse thus mitigate negative effects global below‐canopy ecosystem functions communities.

Language: Английский

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Remote sensing analysis of urban heat island dynamics in Bahir Dar and Hawassa, Ethiopia: The role of vegetation, urbanization, and climate

Environmental Challenges, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 19, P. 101139 - 101139

Published: March 27, 2025

Language: Английский

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Microclimatic Contribution of The Santa Genebra Forest (Campinas/SP – Brazil) Durong The Summer Period

Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 19(3), P. e011776 - e011776

Published: March 31, 2025

Objective: To discuss the ecosystem service of regulation provided by Santa Genebra Forest to municipality Campinas/SP, with an emphasis on climate services. Theoretical Framework: In recent decades, natural ecosystems have been altered humans in pursuit food, drinking water, and better living conditions. urban contexts, green areas play a fundamental role sustainability help mitigate effects urbanization, such as heat islands flood susceptibility. Method: For this study, two sampling points were selected region, one inside forest another at its edge well control point located urbanized area. The objective was analyze microclimatic variations region. Results Discussion: Among studied, it observed that both interior exhibited lower air temperatures higher humidity levels compared This is due ability reduce temperature through shade canopy retain moisture evaporation evapotranspiration. Research Implications: research demonstrated importance for regulation, highlighting benefits attenuation increased relative humidity. It contributes discussions about adaptation extremes. Originality/Value: study emphasizes promoting improving quality life population.

Language: Английский

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Functional connectivity for white-tailed deer drives the distribution of tick-borne pathogens in a highly urbanized setting

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(5)

Published: April 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Plant diversity decrease and directional species turnover induced by shifting overstory dominance in the oak-hornbeam forest reserve over 50 years

Flora, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 152742 - 152742

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Cliff‐edge forests: Xerothermic hotspots of local biodiversity and models for future climate change

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Cliffs are remarkable environments that enable the existence of microclimates. These small, isolated sites, decoupled from regional macroclimate, play a significant role in maintaining species biodiversity, particularly topographically homogeneous landscapes. Our study investigated microclimate south‐exposed forests situated at edge sandstone cliffs western part North Alpine Foreland Basin Switzerland and its local forest community composition. Using direct measurements data loggers, as well vegetation analyses, it was possible to quantify cliff‐edge compare with surrounding forests. results highlighted xerothermic more variable nature microclimate, mean soil temperature up 3.72°C warmer summer, higher annual (+28%) daily (+250%) amplitudes temperature, which frequently expose extreme temperatures, an 83% drying rate. differences have distinct influence on communities: significantly different The site particularities cliff edges support presence locally rare types, Scots pine. Cliff must therefore be considered microrefugia high conservation value for both flora adapted continental climates. Moreover, could resemble future climate many ways. We argue these small areas, already experiencing climate, can seen natural laboratories better answer following question: what will our look like few decades accelerated change?

Language: Английский

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Effects of canopy gaps on microclimate, soil biological activity and their relationship in a European mixed floodplain forest

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 941, P. 173572 - 173572

Published: May 31, 2024

Forest canopy gaps can influence understorey microclimate and ecosystem functions such as decomposition. Gaps arise from silviculture or tree mortality, increasingly influenced by climate change. However, to what degree affect the buffered in under macroclimatic changes is unclear. We, therefore, investigated effect of forest differing structure size (25 gaps: single up 0.67 ha cuttings) on soil biological activity compared closed a European mixed floodplain forest. During investigation period drought year 2022 between May October, mean moisture temperature well air fluctuations increased with increasing openness. In summer, highest difference monthly means cuttings topsoil was 3.98 ± 9.43 % volumetric 2.05 0.89 °C temperature, at 30 cm height 0.61 0.35 temperature. For buffering, both over- layers appeared relevant particularly strong density Three experiments, investigating quantifying decomposition rates tea wooden spatulas mesofauna feeding bait-lamina stripes, revealed no significant differences we found positive throughout season. Although decreased during this period, it showed counteracting activity. Generally, very few relationships were observed experiments. Despite dry growing season, remained high, suggesting had stronger than moisture. We conclude that microclimatic within gap gradient our experiment not enough considerably.

Language: Английский

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Soil moisture alters the responses of alpine ecosystem productivity to environmental factors, especially VPD, on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 947, P. 174518 - 174518

Published: July 5, 2024

Language: Английский

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Forest structural and microclimatic patterns along an elevational gradient in Mount Kenya

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 356, P. 110188 - 110188

Published: Aug. 13, 2024

Tropical mountain forests are important biodiversity hotspots, which host disproportionally high number of endemic species. However, the potential impacts climate change in these areas uncertain. A key factor contributing to this knowledge gap is that climatic conditions experienced by organisms inside tropical (i.e., microclimate) remain largely understudied. Due effects topography and vegetation, understory microclimate can differ substantially from free-air macroclimate). This study aimed at unveiling vegetation structural characteristics microclimatic patterns along an elevational gradient a highly diverse ecosystem (Mount Kenya), combining hundreds terrestrial laser scanning measurements with two-year time-series observations. Our results showed macroclimate temperature elevation contributed >90 % variability our area. The influence soil moisture regulating differed between day night, as well different periods year. contribution variation during was two times higher than night. Soil had cooling effect on daytime, while opposite pattern observed These differences affected lapse rates, clearly seasonal fluctuation diurnal but relatively stable night periods. range regulated combined structure, elevation, moisture. Finally, we were able detect subtle changes forest structure caused historical selective logging. resulted legacy microclimate, thus demonstrating human-induced disturbances have long-lasting ecosystems. improve understanding African forests, how environmental factors.

Language: Английский

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Forest plant indicator values for moisture reflect atmospheric vapour pressure deficit rather than soil water content

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 244(5), P. 1801 - 1811

Published: Aug. 22, 2024

Soil moisture shapes ecological patterns and processes, but it is difficult to continuously measure soil variability across the landscape. To overcome these limitations, often bioindicated using community-weighted means of Ellenberg indicator values vascular plant species. However, ecology distribution species reflect water supply as well atmospheric demand. Therefore, we hypothesized that can also demand expressed a vapour pressure deficit (VPD). test this hypothesis, disentangled relationships among content, deficit, in understory communities temperate broadleaved forests central Europe. reflected VPD rather than content consistently local, landscape, regional spatial scales, regardless vegetation plot size, depth method measurement. Using situ microclimate measurements, discovered forest for an content. Many processes correlated with previously attributed are thus more likely driven by

Language: Английский

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