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Data and code from: Can tropical birds withstand climate change? An empirical test of the microclimate refugia hypothesis in Amazonian forests

Kohler Roberts, Emilia1; Wolfe, Jared2; Forkner, Rebecca1; Cassiano, Liara3; Luther, David1

Research facility: Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP)
Published Nov 10, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6q573n6g0

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Nov 10, 2026 version files 2.65 MB

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Abstract

Declines in tropical bird populations, particularly understory insectivorous species within intact primary rainforests, have been linked to more severe dry season conditions. In the face of increasingly severe dry seasons in the central Amazon, cool and humid understory microclimates likely provide refugia for species threatened by hot and dry conditions. We test the microclimate refugia hypothesis amongst a community of tropical understory birds through a combination of mist netting and microclimate data collection in cooler and more humid riparian areas compared to adjacent plateaus in the Amazon rainforest. By comparing microclimate conditions, avian capture rates, community composition, and diel activity in riparian igarapé and plateau habitats, we found that while understory bird communities were significantly different between habitats, there were no significant differences in captures rates or diel activity habitat use between habitats. We conclude that although riparian habitats have the potential to function as climatically stable environments, understory birds do not systematically utilize these refugia during the hottest and driest parts of the day in the central Amazon rainforest. Future research should look into food availability and accessibility in these habitats, and focus on the aspects of behavioral ecology which govern the use of microclimate refugia in tropical forests.