Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: The diversity of many forest-dwelling organisms depends on forest structure, but it remains unknown to which degree this is mediated by microclimatic temperature, and whether microclimatic buffering is universally beneficial for forest biodiversity. In 234 broad-leaved forest plots across nine climatically differing regions in Germany, we measured micro-and macroclimatic temperatures, canopy cover, and deadwood volume after experimental manipulations of forest structure through thinning operations and gap cuts. We surveyed 21 taxonomic groups, representing plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals, to assess how their diversity depended on the predictors. Multi-taxon diversity, and diversity of ten separate taxonomic groups, increased from closed to open canopies. Only necrophagous beetles were more diverse in closed stands. These effects of canopy cover on diversity were partly mediated by microclimatic temperatures. Thereby, diversity responses to microclimatic temperature depended on the macroclimatic context. In regions with colder summers, locally warmer microclimates in canopy gaps had strong positive effects on biodiversity, while these effects were not found in regions with warmer summers. Consequently, management strategies aimed at multi-taxon forest diversity conservation should be chosen based on the regional climate, favoring canopy gaps primarily in colder regions, and taking future climate warming into consideration.
Authors: Kerstin Pierick, Roman M. Link, Orsi Decker, Johanna Asch, Petr Baldrian, Claus Bässler, Julian Bittermann, Vendula Brabcová, Pia M. Bradler, Medha Bulusu, Marc W. Cadotte, Lena Carlson, Simone Cesarz, Anne Chao, Alice Claßen, Nico Daume, Benjamin M. Delory, Sebastian Dittrich, Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Martin Ehbrecht, Nico Eisenhauer, Heike Feldhaar, Joshua Ferenczy, Andreas Fichtner, Ronja Hausmann, Csenge V. Horváth, Michael Junginger, Patrick Kacic, Lisa Köstler-Albert, Daniel Kraus, Ludwig Lettenmaier, Clàudia Massó Estaje, Oliver Mitesser, Akira S. Mori, Jörg Müller, Goddert von Oheimb, Marcell K. Peters, Ruth Pickert, Fons van der Plas, Jeisson Rodriguez Valenzuela, Julia Rothacher, Kai Sattler, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Jens Schlüter, Rike Schwarz, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Jean-Léonard Stör, Leah Vogelfänger, Clara Wild, Dominik Seidel, Bernhard Schuldt, Christian Ammer
Institutions: University of Göttingen, Technische Universität Dresden, Bavarian Forest National Park, University of Freiburg, University of Würzburg, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, University of Bayreuth, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, University of Toronto Scarborough, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Leipzig University, National Tsing Hua University, University of Bremen, Utrecht University, Institute of Ecology and Botany, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR), Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, The University of Tokyo, Wageningen University & Research, University of Gothenburg, Universität Ulm
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
OpenAlex ID: W7223084394