Microclimate in Forest Ecosystem and Landscape Ecology

• DOI: 10.2307/1313612
• Publication Date: 2006-04-25T23:06:23Z
• Authors: Jiquan Chen; Sari C. Saunders; Thomas R. Crow; Robert J. Naiman; Kimberley D. Bros...; Glenn D. Mroz; Brian L. Brookshire; Jerry F. Franklin
• Keywords: Microclimate

Microclimate is the suite of climatic conditions measured in localized areas near earth's surface (Geiger 1965). These environmental variables, which include temperature, light, windspeed, and moisture, have been critical throughout human history, providing meaningful indicators for habitat selection other activities. For example, 2600 years Chinese used seasonal changes temperature precipitation to schedule their agricultural In seminal studies, Shirley (1929, 1945) emphasized microclimate as a determinant ecological patterns both plant animal communities driver such processes growth mortality organisms. The importance influencing regeneration growth, soil resperation repiration, nutrient cycling, wildlife has became an essential component current research (Perry 1994). respiration,