Microclimate, an important part of ecology and biogeography

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(6)

Published: April 8, 2024

Abstract Brief introduction: What are microclimates and why they important? Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. is increasingly used to understand mitigate climate biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status microclimate ecology biogeography in terrestrial ecosystems, where this field heading next. investigations We highlight latest research on interactions between organisms, including how influence individuals, through them populations, communities entire ecosystems their processes. also briefly discuss recent organisms shape from tropics poles. applications ecosystem management Microclimates important under change. showcase new with examples conservation, forestry urban ecology. importance microrefugia conservation promote heterogeneity. Methods for advances data acquisition, such as novel sensors remote sensing methods. modelling, mapping processing, accessibility modelling tools, advantages mechanistic statistical solutions computational challenges that have pushed state‐of‐the‐art field. What's next? identify major knowledge gaps need be filled further advancing investigations, These include spatiotemporal scaling data, mismatches macroclimate predicting responses change, more evidence outcomes management.

Language: Английский

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Microclimate reveals the true thermal niche of forest plant species

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(12), P. 2043 - 2055

Published: Oct. 3, 2023

Species distributions are conventionally modelled using coarse-grained macroclimate data measured in open areas, potentially leading to biased predictions since most terrestrial species reside the shade of trees. For forest plant across Europe, we compared conventional macroclimate-based distribution models (SDMs) with corrected for microclimate buffering. We show that microclimate-based SDMs at high spatial resolution outperformed and coarser resolution. Additionally, introduced a systematic bias response curves, which could result erroneous range shift predictions. Critically important conservation science, these were unable identify warm cold refugia edges distributions. Our study emphasizes crucial role when used gain insights into biodiversity face climate change, particularly given growing policy management focus on worldwide.

Language: Английский

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Higher soil moisture increases microclimate temperature buffering in temperate broadleaf forests

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 345, P. 109828 - 109828

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Forest canopies can buffer the understory against temperature extremes, often creating cooler microclimates during warm summer days compared to temperatures outside forest. The buffering of maximum in results from a combination canopy shading and air cooling through soil water evaporation plant transpiration. Therefore, capacity forests depends on cover moisture content, which are increasingly affected by more frequent severe disturbances droughts. extent this will be maintained future conditions is unclear due lack understanding about relationship between interaction with topographic settings. We explored how variability affects offsets inside forest daily basis, using data 54 sites temperate broadleaf Central Europe over four climatically different seasons. Daily understories were average 2 °C than temperatures. was effective when higher, sensitive drier soils sun-exposed slopes high heat load. Based these results, soil–water limitation become prevalent under warmer likely lead changes communities. Thus, our highlight urgent need include models predictions microclimate, biodiversity tree regeneration, provide precise estimate effects climate change.

Language: Английский

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Forest microclimate in mountains and its impact on plant community: Still a question of shade, but this time it’s not coming from the canopy

Peer Community In Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

A recommendation of: Jeremy Borderieux, Emiel De Lombaerde, Karen Pauw, Pieter Sanczuk, Vangansbeke, Thomas Vanneste, Frenne, Jean-Claude Gégout, Josep M. Serra- Diaz Cool topoclimates promote cold-adapted plant diversity in temperate mountain forests. https://doi.org/10.32942/X2XC8T

Language: Английский

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Novel light regimes in European forests

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 8(2), P. 196 - 202

Published: Nov. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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Impact of coppicing on microclimate and understorey vegetation diversity in an ancient Mediterranean oak forest

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 918, P. 170531 - 170531

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Coppicing is one of the oldest silvicultural practices and still widely applied to produce renewable energy from broadleaf forests. However, consequences on microclimate understorey vegetation are poorly understood, especially in Mediterranean oak With ongoing changes climate system global biodiversity loss, a better understanding how forest temperature buffering capacity below-canopy plant community impacted by coppicing crucial. Here we quantify adjacent ancient coppice-with-standards high stands dominated oaks Italy, where these systems have been for long time. Air soil temperatures were recorded 2.5 years, nested plots used analyse effects species composition, taxonomic, phylogenetic, functional diversity. significantly reduced capacity. The mean daily maximum over entire period was 1.45 °C higher coppiced sites, whereas minimum 0.62 lower than forest. increased richness favouring generalist taxa, but decreased proportion specialists. forests consisted more warm-adapted species. Moreover, also led loss phylogenetic evenness shifts diversity weighted Leaf Dry Matter content, pointing habitat filtering acclimation processes. In sum, show that affects understory direction can exacerbate change, negatively affecting specialist flora its evenness.

Language: Английский

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Microrefugia and microclimate: Unraveling decoupling potential and resistance to heatwaves

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 924, P. 171696 - 171696

Published: March 13, 2024

Microrefugia, defined as small areas maintaining populations of species outside their range margins during environmental extremes, are increasingly recognized for role in conserving the face climate change. Understanding microclimatic dynamics becomes crucial with global warming leading to severe temperature and precipitation changes. This study investigates phenomenon short-term climatic decoupling within microrefugia its implications plant persistence Mediterranean region southeastern France. We focus on microrefugia's ability climatically disconnect from macroclimatic trends, examining Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) microrefugia, adjacent control plots, weather stations. Our encompasses both "normal" conditions heatwave episodes explore thermal moisture insulators extreme events. Landscape attributes such relative elevation, solar radiation, distance streams, vegetation height investigated contribution decoupling. results demonstrate that exhibit notable trends. effect is maintained heatwaves, underscoring vital responding extremes. Importantly, maintain lower VPD levels than surroundings potentially mitigating water stress plants. advances our understanding microclimate underscores ecological importance a changing climate. As heatwaves become more frequent severe, findings provide insights into buffering but also against events and, generally, warming. knowledge emphasizes need detect protect existing they can be integrated conservation strategies change adaptation plans.

Language: Английский

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Changes in forest structure drive temperature preferences of boreal understorey plant communities

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 110(3), P. 631 - 643

Published: Dec. 9, 2021

Abstract The local climate in forest understories can deviate substantially from ambient conditions. Moreover, microclimates are often characterized by cyclic changes driven management activities such as clear‐cutting and subsequent planting. To understand how why understorey plant communities change, both change temporal variation structure have to be considered. We used inventories 11,436 productive sites Sweden repeated every 10th year 1993–2017 examine influences the average value of minimum maximum temperature preferences all species a community, that is, community indices (CTIs). then evaluated what extent these were extinctions colonizations, respectively, difference CTI between two was related density macroclimate. Lastly, we tested whether effects on drivers modified topography, soil moisture tree composition. values increased after clear‐cutting, decreased during periods when grew denser. During period immediately predominately colonizations with preference for higher temperatures. regeneration phase, preferring lower temperatures increased. over 10‐year explained more density, than Soil moisture, topography composition some macroclimate values. Synthesis . Via stand manipulation, impacts regional communities. This implies creating denser stands locally even counterbalance climate. Consequently, interpretations mean should take regimes into account.

Language: Английский

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Review on Driving Factors of Ecosystem Services: Its Enlightenment for the Improvement of Forest Ecosystem Functions in Karst Desertification Control

Forests, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(3), P. 582 - 582

Published: March 15, 2023

Understanding the multi-scale and multi-factor driving mechanisms of ecosystem services (ES) change is crucial for combating severe degradation ecosystem. We reviewed 408 publications on structure, biodiversity, plant functional traits related to ES in forest ecosystems. Strategies were proposed key scientific issues pointed out improve karst desertification area. The results showed that total number has increased rapidly since 2014, which biodiversity studies contributed majority. China, USA, Germany top three countries, accounting 41%, 9%, 6% research, respectively. Further review found species diversity, have an apparent effect at different (macro, meso, micro) scales. optimization tree structure contributes improvement provision regulation capacity. Species diversity plays important role services, while equally services. Plant root can not only help but also determine rhizosphere microbial communities. response a certain factor been extensively reviewed, interaction multiple factors needs be further studied, especially how drive supply capacity ways. Clarifying mechanism scales will achieve goal sustainable development.

Language: Английский

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Active management: a definition and considerations for implementation in forests of temperate Australia

Australian Forestry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 87(3), P. 125 - 147

Published: July 2, 2024

Active management is often mentioned but rarely defined in current policies and strategies for native forests of temperate Australia. Lack clarity about active could mean that to support forest health human involvement with are not fit purpose. In this paper, we summarise the policy context Victoria (as a case study Australia) review representations broader temperate-forest literature, including its place relation associated concepts like adaptive management. Based on review, provide definition focuses activities – deliberate practices diverse purposes goals situated within operational approaches (e.g. frameworks) enact overarching philosophy paradigm(s) Our acknowledges multiple potential framings encompass philosophies sociocultural relationships require governance structures foster inclusive understandings. Additional considerations implementing Australia's include refreshed visions management, clearly stated criteria choosing among under uncertainty, revised guidelines practices, commitment building evidence base through iterative learning targeted experiments an or analogous framework.

Language: Английский

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