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

---

Clustered warming tolerances and the nonlinear risks of biodiversity loss on a warming planet

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1917)

Published: Jan. 9, 2025

Anthropogenic climate change is projected to become a major driver of biodiversity loss, destabilizing the ecosystems on which human society depends. As planet rapidly warms, disruption ecological interactions among populations, species and their environment, will likely drive positive feedback loops, accelerating pace magnitude losses. We propose that, even without invoking such amplifying feedback, loss should increase nonlinearly with warming because non-uniform distribution biodiversity. Whether these non-uniformities are uneven populations across species’ thermal niche, or niche limits within an community, we show that in both cases, resulting clustering population tolerances drives nonlinear increases risk discuss how fundamental constraints physiologies geographical distributions give rise clustered tolerances, responses changing climates could variously temper, delay intensify dynamics. argue risks be null expectation under warming, highlight empirical research needed understand causes, commonness consequences better predict where, when why losses occur. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Bending curve towards nature recovery: building Georgina Mace’s legacy for biodiverse future’.

Language: Английский

---

Microclimate modulation: An overlooked mechanism influencing the impact of plant diversity on ecosystem functioning

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Changes in climate and biodiversity are widely recognized as primary global change drivers of ecosystem structure functioning, also affecting services provided to human populations. Increasing plant diversity not only enhances functioning stability but mitigates effects buffers extreme weather conditions, yet the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Recent studies have shown that can mitigate (e.g. reduce temperature fluctuations or drought through microclimatic effects) different compartments focal ecosystem, which such may contribute effect on properties functioning. However, these potential diversity‐induced microclimate sufficiently understood. Here, we explored consequences modulation modification by for a mechanism contributing documented biodiversity–ecosystem (BEF) relationships, using combination theoretical simulation approaches. We focused diverse set response variables at various levels integration ranging from ecosystem‐level carbon exchange soil enzyme activity, including population dynamics activity specific organisms. demonstrated vegetation layer composed many species has influence thus mitigating negative impacts extremes Integrating processes temperature, humidity light modulation) BEF relationships is promising avenue improve our understanding better predict future structure, services. In addition, management monitoring should be seen tool practitioners adapt ecosystems change.

Language: Английский

---

Optimising occurrence data in species distribution models: sample size, positional uncertainty, and sampling bias matter

Ecography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

Species distribution models (SDMs) have proven valuable in filling gaps our knowledge of species occurrences. However, despite their broad applicability, SDMs exhibit critical shortcomings due to limitations occurrence data. These include, particular, issues related sample size, positional uncertainty, and sampling bias. In addition, it is widely recognised that the quality as well approaches used mitigate impact aforementioned data depend on ecology. While numerous studies evaluated effects these SDM performance, a synthesis results lacking. without comprehensive understanding individual combined effects, ability predict influence modelled species–environment associations remains largely uncertain, limiting value model outputs. this paper, we review bias, ecology We build upon findings provide recommendations for assessment intended use SDMs.

Language: Английский

---

Microclimate mapping using novel radiative transfer modelling

Biogeosciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(2), P. 605 - 623

Published: Jan. 29, 2024

Abstract. Climate data matching the scales at which organisms experience climatic conditions are often missing. Yet, such on microclimatic required to better understand climate change impacts biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Here we combine a network of microclimate temperature measurements across different habitats vertical heights with novel radiative transfer model map daily temperatures during vegetation period 10 m spatial resolution Switzerland. Our results reveal strong horizontal variability in temperature, particularly for maximum 5 cm above ground within topsoil. Compared macroclimate as measured by weather stations outside forests, diurnal air topsoil ranges inside forests were reduced up 3.0 7.8 ∘C, respectively, while below trees e.g. hedges solitary trees, this buffering effect was 1.8 7.2 respectively. We also found that, open grasslands, are, average, 3.4 ∘C warmer than those macroclimate, suggesting habitats, heat exposure close is underestimated when using macroclimatic data. Spatial interpolation achieved hybrid approach based linear mixed-effect models input from detailed radiation estimates that account topographic shading, well other predictor variables related topography, height. After accounting effects, patterns primarily driven radiation, effects temperatures. Results block cross-validation revealed predictive accuracies root mean squared errors ranging 1.18 3.43 minimum being predicted more accurately overall The microclimate-mapping methodology presented here enables biologically relevant perspective analysing climate–species interactions, expected lead understanding biotic responses land use change.

Language: Английский

---

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

---

Significant shifts in latitudinal optima of North American birds

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(15)

Published: April 1, 2024

Changes in climate can alter environmental conditions faster than most species adapt. A prediction under a warming is that will shift their distributions poleward through time. While many studies focus on range shifts, latitudinal shifts species’ optima occur without detectable changes range. We quantified for 209 North American bird over the last 55 y. The optimum ( m ) each year was estimated using bespoke flexible non-linear zero-inflated model of abundance vs. latitude, and annual time quantified. One-third (70) showed significant optimum. Overall, mean peak abundances birds have shifted northward, average, at rate 1.5 km per (±0.58 SE), corresponding to total distance moved 82.5 (±31.9 SE) Stronger continental scale were linked key traits, including thermal optimum, habitat specialization, territoriality. Shifts western region larger less variable eastern region, they density preference, specialization. Individual strongly clearly indicating climate-driven response. Displacement from historically optimal realized niches dramatic ecological consequences. Effective conservation must consider within-range shifts. Areas currently deemed “optimal” are unlikely remain so.

Language: Английский

---

Incorporating effects of habitat patches into species distribution models

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 112(10), P. 2162 - 2182

Published: Aug. 30, 2024

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are algorithms designed to infer the of species using environmental and biotic variables have become an important tool for ecologists conservation biologists seeking understand implications change. Global datasets at resolutions a few metres increasingly available. SDMs fitted such high‐resolution data allow researchers investigate how local factors affect occurrences unprecedented fine spatial scales. As resolution increases, we see critical need consider characteristics habitat types within or around raster pixels. In particular, argue that effects patches (EHPs, including area, configuration, diversity), measured focusing on landscapes, yet be fully realized in SDMs. We provide guidelines incorporate EHPs explain why this development is important, describe approaches properly conduct analyses, discuss pitfalls foresee testing EHPs. Synthesis . Ensuring incorporating will key increasing model predictive performance understanding which influence At crucial time nature conservation, step forward protecting biodiversity.

Language: Английский

---

Dealing with area‐to‐point spatial misalignment in species distribution models

Ecography, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(5)

Published: March 22, 2024

Species distribution models (SDMs) are extensively used to estimate species–environment relationships (SERs) and predict species across space time. For this purpose, it is key choose relevant spatial grains for predictor response variables at the onset of modelling process. However, environmental often derived from large‐scale climate a grain that can be coarser than one variable. Such area‐to‐point misalignment bias estimates SER jeopardise robustness predictions. We virtual approach, running simulations different levels seek statistical solutions problem. specifically compared accuracy predictive performances, assessed degrees heterogeneity in conditions, three SDMs: GLM, GLM Berkson error model (BEM) accounts fine‐grain within coarse‐grain cells. Only BEM accurately relatively data (up 50 times grain), while two GLMs provide flattened SER. all perform poorly when predicting data, particularly environments more heterogeneous training conditions. Conversely, decreasing relative dataset reduces biases. Because predictions made covariate‐grain displays lower performance GLMs. Thus, standard selection methods would fail select best SERs (here, BEM), which could lead false interpretations about drivers distributions. Overall, we conclude BEM, because robustly grain, holds great promise overcome misalignment.

Language: Английский

---

Microclimate Driven Grassland Greenness Asymmetry Between West‐ and East‐ Facing Slopes on the Tibetan Plateau

Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 52(2)

Published: Jan. 20, 2025

Abstract Slope orientation creates microclimate by modulating water and heat flux between the land surface atmosphere, thereby regulating vegetation growth its response to background climate change. However, potential asymmetry in greenness west‐ east‐facing slopes remains underexplored. Analyzing normalized difference index derived from Landsat reflectances Tibetan Plateau (TP) grassland, we identified that west‐facing were greener than western TP, while opposite appeared eastern TP. We also detected a stronger greening trend on east‐ facing over entire TP grassland 1991 2020. These disparities result distinct microclimates two contrasting slopes: tend be wetter colder under similar climate. Our findings underscore crucial role of slope shaping

Language: Английский

---