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

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Global buffering of temperatures under forest canopies

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 3(5), P. 744 - 749

Published: April 1, 2019

Language: Английский

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Extinction risk from climate change is reduced by microclimatic buffering

Nature Climate Change, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 8(8), P. 713 - 717

Published: July 20, 2018

Language: Английский

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Microclimatic buffering in forests of the future: the role of local water balance

Ecography, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 42(1), P. 1 - 11

Published: June 21, 2018

Forest canopies buffer climate extremes and promote microclimates that may function as refugia for understory species under changing climate. However, the biophysical conditions maintain microclimatic buffering its stability through time are largely unresolved. We posited forest is sensitive to local water balance canopy cover, we measured this effect during growing season across a gradient in forests of northwestern United States (US). found maximum temperature vapor pressure deficit (VPD), with biologically meaningful sizes. For example, season, VPD at least 50% were 5.3°C 1.1 kPa lower on average, respectively, compared areas without cover. Canopy was greater higher levels varied balance, implying effects subject changes hydrology. project mid‐21st century predict how such impact ability western US extremes. Our results suggest some will lose their capacity sites become increasingly limited. Changes combined accelerating losses due increases frequency severity disturbance create potentially non‐linear microclimate forests.

Language: Английский

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Climatic microrefugia under anthropogenic climate change: implications for species redistribution

Ecography, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 40(2), P. 253 - 266

Published: Nov. 3, 2016

The role of modern climatic microrefugia is a neglected aspect in the study biotic responses to anthropogenic climate change. Current projections species redistribution at continental extent are based on grids coarse (≥ 1 km) resolutions that fail capture spatiotemporal dynamics associated with microrefugia. Here, we review recent methods model component potential and highlight research gaps accounting for buffering capacity due biophysical processes operating very fine (< m) (e.g. canopy cover) microclimatic stability over time (i.e. decoupling). To overcome this challenge, propose spatially hierarchical downscaling framework combining free‐air temperature grid km resolution, digital elevation 25 m resolution small‐footprint light detection‐and‐ranging (LiDAR) data 50 cm knowledge from literature mechanistically sub‐canopy temperatures account decoupling. We applied virtual simulated impact warming scenario its distribution. Modelling enlarges range conditions towards cold end gradient, mitigates regional changes decreases extirpation risks. Incorporating these into models, being correlative, mechanistic or hybrid, will increase probability local persistence, which has important consequences understanding adapt. finally provide synthesis additional ways field could move effectively considering redistribution.

Language: Английский

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Advances in Microclimate Ecology Arising from Remote Sensing

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(4), P. 327 - 341

Published: Jan. 15, 2019

Language: Английский

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Advances in Monitoring and Modelling Climate at Ecologically Relevant Scales

Advances in ecological research/Advances in Ecological Research, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 101 - 161

Published: Jan. 1, 2018

Language: Английский

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Canopy structure and topography jointly constrain the microclimate of human‐modified tropical landscapes

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 24(11), P. 5243 - 5258

Published: Sept. 23, 2018

Local-scale microclimatic conditions in forest understoreys play a key role shaping the composition, diversity and function of these ecosystems. Consequently, understanding what drives variation microclimate is critical to forecasting ecosystem responses global change, particularly tropics where many species already operate close their thermal limits rapid land-use transformation profoundly altering local environments. Yet our ability characterize at ecologically meaningful scales remains limited, as understorey cannot be directly measured from outside canopy. To address this challenge, we established network sensors across intensity gradient spanning old-growth forests oil-palm plantations Borneo. We then combined observations with high-resolution airborne laser scanning data how topography canopy structure shape both locally landscape. In processes, generated surfaces over 350 km2 , which used explore potential impacts habitat degradation on regeneration under current future climate scenarios. found that vegetation were strong predictors microclimate, elevation terrain curvature primarily constraining daily mean temperatures vapour pressure deficit (VPD), whereas height had clear dampening effect extremes. This buffering was pronounced wind-exposed slopes but tended saturate once exceeded 20 m-suggesting despite intensive logging, secondary remain largely thermally buffered. Nonetheless, landscape-scale highly heterogeneous, maximum ranging between 24.2 37.2°C VPD two orders magnitude. Based this, estimate by end century could hampered degraded much Borneo's lowlands if continue rise following projected trends.

Language: Английский

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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

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Global patterns of intraspecific leaf trait responses to elevation

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 25(7), P. 2485 - 2498

Published: May 6, 2019

Abstract Elevational gradients are often used to quantify how traits of plant species respond abiotic and biotic environmental variations. Yet, such analyses frequently restricted spatially applied along single slopes or mountain ranges. Since we know little on the response intraspecific leaf elevation across globe, here perform a global meta‐analysis in 109 located 4 continents reported 71 studies published between 1983 2018. We quantified change seven morpho‐ecophysiological elevational gradients: specific area (SLA), mass per (LMA), (LA), nitrogen concentration unit (N ), phosphorous (P ) carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C). found LMA, N , δ C significantly increase SLA decrease with increasing elevation. Conversely, LA P showed no significant pattern worldwide. larger warmer regions. Larger responses were apparent for herbaceous compared woody species, but not other traits. Finally, also detected evidences covariation morphological physiological within same gradient. In sum, demonstrate that there common cross‐species patterns trait variation Irrespective whether is genetically determined via local adaptation attributed phenotypic plasticity, suggest adapted live range temperature conditions. distribution biota predominantly shifting upslope changes conditions, our results important further understanding plants ecosystems adapt change.

Language: Английский

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