Spatial variability of microclimate in temperate and tropical forest ecosystems
Content
Forest microclimate strongly influences biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Its horizontal and vertical variability is largely determined by three-dimensional forest structure, which in turn is driven by forest management. Accurately predicting the effects of climate change on forest microclimates requires a better understanding of how microclimates vary spatially depending on the horizontal and vertical variability of forest structures as a result of different management approaches. Therefore, this study aims to measure in-situ climate variables (air temperature and humidity) along a gradient of forest structural complexity to predict and map the spatial variability of microclimates within the canopy of differently managed and unmanaged forests. The research will focus on temperate forests (Hainich region, Germany) and tropical forests (Budongo Conservation Area, Uganda), providing insights into how forest structure-microclimate relationships vary across the two biomes.
