Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research
Forest canopies are incredibly complex self-maintaining biological structures. Conditions above and within the canopy can differ vastly, often resulting in a vertical gradient of microclimate conditions. Canopy epiphytic plants have to deal with climatic variability on much more variable scales comp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.828725/full |
| _version_ | 1818285751279812608 |
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| author | Mariana Murakami Mariana Murakami Flavio Nunes Ramos Maxime Durand Robert Ashton Sven P. Batke |
| author_facet | Mariana Murakami Mariana Murakami Flavio Nunes Ramos Maxime Durand Robert Ashton Sven P. Batke |
| author_sort | Mariana Murakami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Forest canopies are incredibly complex self-maintaining biological structures. Conditions above and within the canopy can differ vastly, often resulting in a vertical gradient of microclimate conditions. Canopy epiphytic plants have to deal with climatic variability on much more variable scales compared to many other plant groups. The difficulty of sensor installation and their high cost can explain why it has been ignored in many studies on canopy epiphytes. Direct measurements of microenvironmental conditions are the only accurate way to assess specific intra-canopy environmental conditions, as there is also still a lack of methodologically and financially viable alternatives to allow the collection of this type of data. This study aims to make recommendations for the direct use of microclimate measurements in epiphyte research and to summarize key discussion points concerning the number and placement of sensors required for different types of epiphyte studies. In addition, we presented high-resolution field data from the United Kingdom, where we employed over 56 microclimate sensors, to demonstrate the spatial and temporal variability of radiation, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) in a tree canopy. Our data demonstrated that sensor height in the tree and leaf-set were the most important factors determining microclimate variability in the canopy. For the first time, we have made recommendations regarding the placement and number of sensors required in studies that specifically require the use of microclimate sensors in epiphyte studies in forest canopies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:13:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33ce17f83b4f4b4a9fb3e05cef0972e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-893X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:13:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Forests and Global Change |
| spelling | doaj.art-33ce17f83b4f4b4a9fb3e05cef0972e22022-12-22T00:04:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Forests and Global Change2624-893X2022-03-01510.3389/ffgc.2022.828725828725Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte ResearchMariana Murakami0Mariana Murakami1Flavio Nunes Ramos2Maxime Durand3Robert Ashton4Sven P. Batke5Biology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United KingdomInstituto de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, BrazilInstituto de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, BrazilFaculty of Biology and Environmental Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandBiology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United KingdomBiology Department, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United KingdomForest canopies are incredibly complex self-maintaining biological structures. Conditions above and within the canopy can differ vastly, often resulting in a vertical gradient of microclimate conditions. Canopy epiphytic plants have to deal with climatic variability on much more variable scales compared to many other plant groups. The difficulty of sensor installation and their high cost can explain why it has been ignored in many studies on canopy epiphytes. Direct measurements of microenvironmental conditions are the only accurate way to assess specific intra-canopy environmental conditions, as there is also still a lack of methodologically and financially viable alternatives to allow the collection of this type of data. This study aims to make recommendations for the direct use of microclimate measurements in epiphyte research and to summarize key discussion points concerning the number and placement of sensors required for different types of epiphyte studies. In addition, we presented high-resolution field data from the United Kingdom, where we employed over 56 microclimate sensors, to demonstrate the spatial and temporal variability of radiation, temperature, and relative humidity (RH) in a tree canopy. Our data demonstrated that sensor height in the tree and leaf-set were the most important factors determining microclimate variability in the canopy. For the first time, we have made recommendations regarding the placement and number of sensors required in studies that specifically require the use of microclimate sensors in epiphyte studies in forest canopies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.828725/fulllighttemperaturerelative humidityforestrysensorsclimate |
| spellingShingle | Mariana Murakami Mariana Murakami Flavio Nunes Ramos Maxime Durand Robert Ashton Sven P. Batke Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research Frontiers in Forests and Global Change light temperature relative humidity forestry sensors climate |
| title | Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research |
| title_full | Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research |
| title_fullStr | Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research |
| title_short | Quantification and Variation of Microclimatic Variables Within Tree Canopies - Considerations for Epiphyte Research |
| title_sort | quantification and variation of microclimatic variables within tree canopies considerations for epiphyte research |
| topic | light temperature relative humidity forestry sensors climate |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2022.828725/full |
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