Forest microclimates and climate change: Importance, drivers and future research agenda

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(11), P. 2279 - 2297

Published: March 16, 2021

Abstract Forest microclimates contrast strongly with the climate outside forests. To fully understand and better predict how forests' biodiversity functions relate to change, need be integrated into ecological research. Despite potentially broad impact of on response forest ecosystems global our understanding within below tree canopies modulate biotic responses change at species, community ecosystem level is still limited. Here, we review spatial temporal variation in result from an interplay features, local water balance, topography landscape composition. We first stress exemplify importance considering across landscapes. Next, explain macroclimate warming (of free atmosphere) can affect microclimates, vice versa, via interactions land‐use changes different biomes. Finally, perform a priority ranking future research avenues interface microclimate ecology biology, specific focus three key themes: (1) disentangling abiotic drivers feedbacks microclimates; (2) regional mapping predictions (3) impacts functioning face change. The availability microclimatic data will significantly increase coming decades, characterizing variability unprecedented scales relevant biological processes This revolutionize dynamics, implications functions, changes. In order support sustainable use forests secure their services for generations, cannot ignored.

Language: Английский

---

Wildfire-Driven Forest Conversion in Western North American Landscapes

BioScience, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 70(8), P. 659 - 673

Published: May 18, 2020

Changing disturbance regimes and climate can overcome forest ecosystem resilience. Following high-severity fire, recovery may be compromised by lack of tree seed sources, warmer drier postfire climate, or short-interval reburning. A potential outcome the loss resilience is conversion prefire to a different type nonforest vegetation. Conversion implies major, extensive, enduring changes in dominant species, life forms, functions, with impacts on services. In present article, we synthesize growing body evidence fire-driven our understanding its causes across western North America. We assess capacity predict highlight important uncertainties. Increasing vulnerability changing fire activity compels shifts management approaches, propose key themes for applied research coproduced scientists managers support decision-making an era when not return.

Language: Английский

---

Wildfires and climate change push low-elevation forests across a critical climate threshold for tree regeneration

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(13), P. 6193 - 6198

Published: March 11, 2019

Climate change is increasing fire activity in the western United States, which has potential to accelerate climate-induced shifts vegetation communities. Wildfire can catalyze by killing adult trees that could otherwise persist climate conditions no longer suitable for seedling establishment and survival. Recently documented declines postfire conifer recruitment States may be an example of this phenomenon. However, role annual variation its interaction with long-term trends driving these changes poorly resolved. Here we examine relationship between tree regeneration two dominant, low-elevation conifers (ponderosa pine Douglas-fir) using annually resolved dates from 2,935 destructively sampled 33 wildfires across four regions States. We show had a nonlinear response conditions, distinct thresholds based on vapor pressure deficit, soil moisture, maximum surface temperature. At dry sites our study region, seasonal over past 20 years have crossed thresholds, such become increasingly unsuitable regeneration. High severity low seed availability further reduced probability Together, results demonstrate combined high leading fewer opportunities seedlings establish after lead ecosystem transitions ponderosa Douglas-fir forests

Language: Английский

---

The functional role of temperate forest understorey vegetation in a changing world

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 25(11), P. 3625 - 3641

Published: July 13, 2019

Abstract Temperate forests cover 16% of the global forest area. Within these forests, understorey is an important biodiversity reservoir that can influence ecosystem processes and functions in multiple ways. However, we still lack a thorough understanding relative importance for temperate functioning. As result, understoreys are often ignored during assessments functioning changes thereof under change. We here compiled studies quantify functioning, focussing on litter production, nutrient cycling, evapotranspiration, tree regeneration, pollination pathogen dynamics. describe mechanisms driving develop conceptual framework synthesizing possible effects change drivers understorey‐mediated Our review illustrates understorey's contribution to significant but varies depending function environmental context, more importantly, characteristics overstorey. To predict its change, argue simultaneous investigation both overstorey functional responses will be crucial. shows such very scarce, only available limited set quantification, providing little data forecast

Language: Английский

---

Unfolding the effects of different forestry treatments on microclimate in oak forests: results of a 4‐yr experiment

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Nov. 23, 2019

Abstract A stable below‐canopy microclimate of forests is essential for their biodiversity and ecosystem functionality. Forest management necessarily modifies the buffering capacity woodlands. However, specific effects different forestry treatments on site conditions, temporal recovery after harvests, reason contrasts between are still poorly understood. The four (clear‐cutting, retention tree group, preparation cutting, gap‐cutting) microclimatic variables were studied within a field experiment in managed oak‐dominated stand Hungary, before (2014) (2015–2017) interventions by complete block design with six replicates. From first post‐treatment year, clear‐cuts differed most from uncut control due to increased irradiance heat load. Means variability air soil temperature increased, became dryer along higher moisture levels. Retention groups could effectively ameliorate extreme temperatures but not mean values. Preparation cutting induced slight changes original buffered humid forest microclimate. Despite substantially more incoming light, gap‐cutting retain cool conditions showed highest increase interventions. For variables, we observe any obvious trend 3 yr. decreased time clear‐cuts, while difference continuously gap‐ clear‐cuts. Based multivariate analyses, separated significantly based mainly maxima variability. We found that (1) effect sizes among treatment levels consistent throughout years, (2) climatic appears be far than yr, (3) applied silvicultural methods diverged maxima. our study, spatially heterogeneous fine‐scaled continuous cover (gap‐cutting, selection systems) recommended. By applying these practices, structural elements creating successfully maintained. Thus, induce less pronounced alterations environmental forest‐dwelling organism groups.

Language: Английский

---

Seasonal drivers of understorey temperature buffering in temperate deciduous forests across Europe

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 28(12), P. 1774 - 1786

Published: Aug. 22, 2019

Forest understorey microclimates are often buffered against extreme heat or cold, with important implications for the organisms living in these environments. We quantified seasonal effects of microclimate predictors describing canopy structure, composition and topography (i.e., local factors) forest patch size distance to coast landscape factors).Temperate forests Europe.2017-2018.Woody plants.We combined data from a sensor network weather-station records calculate difference, offset, between temperatures measured inside outside forests. used regression analysis study factors on offset minimum, mean maximum temperatures.The temperature during summer was average cooler by 2.1 °C than forests, minimum winter spring were 0.4 0.9 warmer. The cover strong nonlinear driver summer, we found increased cooling beneath tree species that cast deepest shade. Seasonal offsets mainly regulated topographic features, such as position.Forest experience less severe extremes suggested currently available macroclimate data; therefore, climate-species relationships responses anthropogenic global warming cannot be modelled accurately using alone. Changes will strongly modulate understories, understanding biodiversity functioning threats land-use change climate change. Our predictive models generally applicable across lowland temperate deciduous providing ecologically understories.

Language: Английский

---

Biome: evolution of a crucial ecological and biogeographical concept

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 222(1), P. 97 - 114

Published: Nov. 27, 2018

Summary A biome is a key community ecological and biogeographical concept and, as such, has profited from the overall progress of ecology, punctuated by two major innovations: shifting focus pure pattern description to understanding functionality, changing approach observational explanatory most importantly, descriptive predictive. The functional enabled development mechanistic function‐focused predictive retrodictive modelling; it also shaped current dynamic biological entity having many aspects, with deep roots in evolutionary past, which undergoing change. evolution was three synthetic steps: first synthesis formulated solid body theory explaining meaning zonality collated our knowledge on drivers vegetation patterns at large spatial scales; second translated this into effective modelling tools, developing further link between ecosystem functionality biogeography; third (still progress) seeking common ground large‐scale biogeographic phenomena, using macroecology macroevolutionary research tools.

Language: Английский

---

ForestTemp – Sub‐canopy microclimate temperatures of European forests

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(23), P. 6307 - 6319

Published: Oct. 3, 2021

Ecological research heavily relies on coarse-gridded climate data based standardized temperature measurements recorded at 2 m height in open landscapes. However, many organisms experience environmental conditions that differ substantially from those captured by these macroclimatic (i.e. free air) grids. In forests, the tree canopy functions as a thermal insulator and buffers sub-canopy microclimatic conditions, thereby affecting biological ecological processes. To improve assessment of climatic climate-change-related impacts forest-floor biodiversity functioning, high-resolution grids reflecting forest microclimates are thus urgently needed. Combining more than 1200 time series situ near-surface with topographical, variables machine learning model, we predicted mean monthly offset between 15 cm above surface free-air over period 2000-2020 spatial resolution 25 across Europe. This was used to evaluate difference microclimate macroclimate space seasons finally enabled us calculate annual temperatures for European understories. We found air temperatures, being average 2.1°C (standard deviation ± 1.6°C) lower summer 2.0°C higher (±0.7°C) winter Additionally, our maps expose considerable variation within landscapes, not gridded products. The provided will enable future model below-canopy processes patterns, well species distributions accurately.

Language: Английский

---

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

---

Protected areas not likely to serve as steppingstones for species undergoing climate‐induced range shifts

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(10), P. 2681 - 2696

Published: March 7, 2023

Species across the planet are shifting their ranges to track suitable climate conditions in response change. Given that protected areas have higher quality habitat and often harbor levels of biodiversity compared unprotected lands, it is assumed can serve as steppingstones for species undergoing climate-induced range shifts. However, there several factors may impede successful shifts among areas, including distance must be traveled, unfavorable human land uses along potential movement routes, lack analogous climates. Through a species-agnostic lens, we evaluate these global terrestrial area network measures connectivity, which defined ability landscape facilitate or movement. We found over half two-thirds number units globe at risk connectivity failure, casting doubt on whether many successfully undergo areas. Consequently, unlikely large under warming climate. As disappear from without commensurate immigration suited emerging (due failure), left with depauperate suite Our findings highly relevant given recent pledges conserve 30% by 2030 (30 × 30), underscore need innovative management strategies allow shifts, suggest assisted colonization necessary promote adapted

Language: Английский

---