Tropical forests host up to half of the planet’s biodiversity but up to now, ecological studies over tropical forests often relied on large scale datasets depicting open-air temperatures – that is, the temperature outside the forests, which can be several degrees different from the temperatures inside the forest. This limitation imposed a large barrier in our understanding on how species will respond to climate change.
The research coordinated at the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Meteorological Institute and led by associate professor Eduardo Maeda from the University of Helsinki, has now achieved a major step to overcome this limitation. The results have been published in the scientific journal Nature communication.
Hotspots of microclimate refugia
Temperature is a fundamental factor defining the survival, growth, and reproduction rate of species living inside tropical forests.
Read more at: University of Helsinki
The map shows the variation in temperature differences between ground level and above canopy level (ground level always cooler) on the South American continent. The map is based on actual data collected by researchers. (Photo Credit: Ismaeel et al., 2024 Graphic design Jani Närhi/University of Helsinki)