Contrasting microclimates among hedgerows and woodlands across temperate Europe
2020
Abstract Hedgerows have the potential to facilitate the persistence and migration of species across landscapes, mostly due to benign microclimatic conditions. This thermal buffering function may become even more important in the future for species migration under climate change. Unfortunately, there is a lack of empirical studies quantifying the
microclimateof hedgerows, particularly at broad geographical scales. Here we monitored sub-canopy temperatures using 168 miniature temperature sensors distributed along
woodland-hedgerow transects, and spanning a 1600-km macroclimatic gradient across Europe. First, we assessed the variation in the temperature offset (that is, the difference between sub-canopy and corresponding macroclimate temperatures) for minimum, mean and maximum temperatures along the
woodland-hedgerow transects. Next, we linked the
observed patternsto macroclimate temperatures as well as canopy structure, overstorey composition and hedgerow characteristics. The sub-canopy versus macroclimate temperature offset was on average 0.10 °C lower in hedgerows than in
woodlands. Minimum winter temperatures were consistently lower by 0.10 °C in hedgerows than in
woodlands, while maximum summer temperatures were 0.80 °C higher, albeit mainly around the
woodland-hedgerow
ecotone. The temperature offset was often negatively correlated with macroclimate temperatures. The slope of this relationship was lower for maximum temperatures in hedgerows than in
woodlands. During summer, canopy
cover,
treeheight and hedgerow width had strong cooling effects on maximum mid-day temperatures in hedgerows. The effects of shrub height, shrub cover and shade-casting ability, however, were not significant. To our knowledge, this is the first study to quantify hedgerow
microclimatesalong a continental-scale
environmental gradient. We show that hedgerows are less efficient thermal insulators than
woodlands, especially at high ambient temperatures (e.g. on warm summer days). This knowledge will not only result in better predictions of species distribution across fragmented landscapes, but will also help to elaborate efficient strategies for biodiversity conservation and
landscape planning.
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