Microclimate science has developed into a global discipline. Microclimate science is increasingly used to understand and mitigate climate and biodiversity shifts. Here, we provide an overview of the current status of microclimate ecology and biogeography in terrestrial ecosystems, and where this field is heading next.We highlight the latest research on interactions between microclimates and organisms, including how microclimates influence individuals, and through them populations, communities and entire ecosystems and their processes. We also briefly discuss recent research on how organisms shape microclimates from the tropics to the poles.Microclimates are also important in ecosystem management under climate change. We showcase new research in microclimate management with examples from biodiversity conservation, forestry and urban ecology. We discuss the importance of microrefugia in conservation and how to promote microclimate heterogeneity.We showcase the recent advances in data acquisition, such as novel field sensors and remote sensing methods. We discuss microclimate modelling, mapping and data processing, including accessibility of modelling tools, advantages of mechanistic and statistical modelling and solutions for computational challenges that have pushed the state‐of‐the‐art of the field.We identify major knowledge gaps that need to be filled for further advancing microclimate investigations, applications and methods. These gaps include spatiotemporal scaling of microclimate data, mismatches between macroclimate and microclimate in predicting responses of organisms to climate change, and the need for more evidence on the outcomes of microclimate management.

Microclimate, an important part of ecology and biogeography

Understanding how grain size affects our ability to characterize species responses to ongoing climate change is of crucial importance in the context of an increasing awareness for the substantial difference that exists between coarse spatial resolution macroclimatic data sets and the microclimate actually experienced by organisms. Climate change impacts on biodiversity are expected to peak in mountain areas, wherein the differences between macro and microclimates are precisely the largest. Based on a newly generated fine‐scale environmental data for the Canary Islands, we assessed whether data at 100 m resolution is able to provide more accurate predictions than available data at 1 km resolution. We also analysed how future climate suitability predictions of island endemic bryophytes differ depending on the grain size of grids.

Spatial resolution impacts projected plant responses to climate change on topographically complex islands

Epiphytes typically exhibit clustered distribution patterns, but predicting the spatial variation of their distribution at fine scales has long been a challenge. Taking advantage of a canopy crane giving access to 1.1 ha of lowland seasonal rainforest in Yunnan (China), we assess here which factors promote the probability that a given tree hosts epiphytes, and the variation of species richness and abundance of epiphytic spermatophytes and ferns among trees. Variation in epiphyte species richness as a function of host tree size, characteristics of its surrounding environment, topography and microclimatic conditions, were analyzed by Random Forest. Epiphytic spermatophytes and ferns occupied 2.3 and 10.8% of the available host trees, respectively. Significant models predicting which trees are more likely to host epiphytes than others were obtained, indicating that host tree characteristics and their local environment play a significant role in determining which host tree is most likely to be colonized. These models, as well as models for species richness and abundance, however, exhibited a moderate to low accuracy (r2 0.28 and 0.24 and of 0.12 and 0.14 for spermatophyte and fern richness and abundance, respectively). The best predictor of the presence of epiphytes on a tree, of its epiphytic species richness and abundance, was its DBH. In ferns, however, two peaks of species richness were observed, representing shade-loving ferns on small trees and sun-loving ferns on large trees. Microclimatic conditions and light intensity were the second best factor accounting for variation in species richness and abundance among trees. The contribution of liana infestation, host tree identity, and characteristics of neighboring trees were marginal. Our inclusion of a large number of host-tree characteristics and their local environment did not allow for an apparent improvement of model accuracy over studies with a more limited number of predictors, pointing to the role of chance upon tree colonization. Our results confirm the utmost importance of large trees with emergent canopies for the conservation of the epiphytic flora, but also indicate that epiphytic diversity assessments in tropical forests must also include small understorey trees, which should be further considered for conservation. The importance of the micro-climatic conditions that prevail at the level of each individual host tree further points to the necessity of maintaining a buffer zone around large host trees targeted for conservation.

/pdf/what-makes-a-good-phorophyte-predicting-occupancy-species-21la0z8n.pdf

What makes a good phorophyte? Predicting occupancy, species richness and abundance of vascular epiphytes in a lowland seasonal tropical forest

Epiphytic orchids and ferns in urban forests simulating a lowland tropical forest ecology were studied. This study aims to provide information about the epiphytes' adaptation to living in a dynamic microclimate of the tree canopy. Five epiphytes from the two taxa (orchids and ferns) were observed in their stomatal structure and chlorophyll contents. The stomatal type, size, and density were analysed with microscopic observation. The chlorophyll content was measured using a spectrophotometer. The orchids developed different mechanisms for water conservation compared to the ferns. Orchis develop smaller sizes and denser stomata to support photosynthesis rate as they had water absorbers and storage organs. On the other hand, ferns tend to avoid drought stress by developing fewer numbers and sparse stomata. The higher chlorophyll content in ferns was for photosynthesis efficiency purposes 

Epiphytic ferns and orchids adaptation mechanism based on stomatal structure and chlorophyll content in Urban Forest of Jember University, Indonesia

Climate change is inducing more persistent precipitation regimes (PRs) in the mid-latitudes, characterized with both longer dry and longer wet periods. Such PRs could potentially result in water deficiency, as well as water logging stress. However, the effects of persistent PRs on plant metabolism remain largely unknown. We applied an 8-level PR of increasingly longer alternating dry and wet periods over 120 days to grassland mesocosms and analysed the metabolomic profiles of four species with varying sensitivity to PRs (Holcus lanatus, Phleum pratense, Centaurea jacea, Plantago lanceolata). The metabolome of the most sensitive species Centaurea jacea showed a clear tipping point at a mild PR (10-day dry/wet), while in the other species this happened at more persistent PRs. Amino acids accumulation was a general response across all species. This was more evident in the tolerant species Phleum. Phenylalanine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways were highly involved in PR responses in four species. Fewer phenylpropanoids were changed significantly under more persistent PRs in Centaurea than in the remaining species. These results suggest that the accumulation of amino acids and modulation of secondary metabolism may be key factors limiting metabolic acclimation of sensitive species in response to more persistent PRs. 

Ecometabolomic analysis of the effect of more persistent precipitation regimes reveals common and tolerance related metabolic adjustments in four grassland species

Epiphytic communities offer an original framework to disentangle the contributions of environmental filters, biotic interactions and dispersal limitations to community structure at fine spatial scales. We determine here whether variations in light, microclimatic conditions and host tree size affect the variation in species composition and phylogenetic structure of epiphytic bryophyte communities, and hence, assess the contribution of environmental filtering, phylogenetic constraints and competition to community assembly. A canopy crane giving access to 1.1 ha of tropical rainforest in Yunnan (China) was employed to record hourly light and microclimatic conditions from 54 dataloggers and epiphytic bryophyte communities from 408 plots. Generalized Dissimilarity Modelling was implemented to analyse the relationship between taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover among epiphytic communities, host‐tree characteristics and microclimatic variation. Within‐tree vertical turnover of bryophyte communities was significantly about 30% higher than horizontal turnover among‐trees. Thus, the sharp vertical variations in microclimatic conditions from tree base to canopy are more important than differences in age, reflecting the likelihood of colonization, area, and habitat conditions between young and old trees, in shaping the composition of epiphytic bryophyte communities. Our models, to which microclimatic factors contributed most (83–98%), accounted for 33% and 18% of the variation in vertical turnover in mosses and liverworts, respectively. Phylogenetic turnover shifted from significantly negative or non‐significant within communities to significantly positive among communities, and was slightly, but significantly, correlated with microclimatic variation. These patterns highlight the crucial role of microclimates in determining the composition and phylogenetic structure of epiphytic communities. Synthesis. The mostly non‐significant phylogenetic turnover observed within communities does not support the idea that competition plays an important role in epiphytic bryophytes. Instead, microclimatic variation is the main driver of community composition and phylogenetic structure, evidencing the role of phylogenetic niche conservatism in community assembly.

https://orbi.uliege.be/bitstream/2268/296898/1/Shen%20et%20al.%202022.pdf

Microclimatic variation in tropical canopies: A glimpse into the processes of community assembly in epiphytic bryophyte communities

Introduction: Adiantum nelumboides (Adiantum) is an endangered fern with a narrow distribution along the Yangtze River in China. Due to its cliff-dwelling habit, it experiences water stress conditions, which further endangers its survival. However, no information is available about its molecular responses to drought and half-waterlogging conditions. Methods: Here, we applied five and ten days of half-waterlogging stress, five days of drought stress, and rewatering after five days of drought stress, and studied the resulting metabolome profiles and transcriptome signatures of Adiantum leaves. Results and Discussion: The metabolome profiling detected 864 metabolites. The drought and half-waterlogging stress induced up-accumulation of primary and secondary metabolites including amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and derivatives, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acid accumulation in Adiantum leaves. Whereas, rewatering the drought-stressed seedlings reversed most of these metabolic changes. Transcriptome sequencing confirmed the differential metabolite profiles, where the genes enriched in pathways associated with these metabolites showed similar expression patterns. Overall, the half-waterlogging stress for 10 days induced large-scale metabolic and transcriptomic changes compared to half-waterlogging stress for 05 days, drought stress for 05 days or rewatering for 05 days. Conclusion: This pioneering attempt provides a detailed understanding of molecular responses of Adiantum leaves to drought and half-waterlogging stresses and rewater conditions. This study also provides useful clues for the genetic improvement of Adiantum for drought/half-waterlogging stress tolerance.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic responses of Adiantum (Adiantum nelumboides) leaves under drought, half-waterlogging, and rewater conditions

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Microclimatic variation in tropical canopies: A glimpse into the processes of community assembly in epiphytic bryophyte communities

What makes a good phorophyte? Predicting occupancy, species richness and abundance of vascular epiphytes in a lowland seasonal tropical forest

Metabolomic and transcriptomic responses of Adiantum (Adiantum nelumboides) leaves under drought, half-waterlogging, and rewater conditions