Microclimatic heterogeneity is associated with forest structural complexity and biodiversity

作者：Kerstin Pierick, Dominik Seidel, Pia M. Bradler, Simone Cesarz, Orsi Decker, Benjamin M. Delory, Sebastian Dittrich, Martin Ehbrecht, Nico Eisenhauer, Andreas Fichtner, Michael Junginger, Michael Köhler, Ludwig Lettenmaier, Roman M. Link, Soumen Mallick, Jörg Müller, Julia Rothacher, Lena Rugen, Guido F. Scholz, Jean-Léonard Stör, Kim K. Weissing, Clara Wild, Goddert von Oheimb, Christian Ammer, Bernhard Schuldt · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1101/2025.09.02.673839 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Forest ecology and management

Abstract Forest microclimates, their dependence on forest structure, and their impact on biodiversity are crucial for future forest management under climate change. However, standard approaches for measuring forest microclimates do not capture within-plot heterogeneity, which, according to the habitat heterogeneity hypothesis, is a key driver of local biodiversity. We quantified horizontal and vertical microclimatic heterogeneity within 30 broad-leaved forest plots in Central Europe using a three-dimensional design with high spatial resolution. Moreover, we examined whether microclimatic heterogeneity differs among silvicultural treatments and whether it can be predicted using forest structure indices derived from laser scanning. Additionally, we explored the relationship between microclimatic heterogeneity and biodiversity. In the understory of canopy gaps, warm and cold habitats co-existed in close proximity, leading to a high horizontal microclimatic heterogeneity. In closed stands with high structural complexity, we found steep gradients of increasing temperature and vapor pressure deficit from the ground to the canopy during mid-day. Canopy cover and forest structural complexity were strong indicators of microclimatic heterogeneity. We found positive relationships between herb layer temperature heterogeneity and the diversity of plants, Hymenoptera, and Diptera. Our results demonstrate that single-point measurements fail to capture the substantial microclimatic heterogen...