Skip to main content
Dryad

Data from: Managing canopy cover to preserve forest microclimate and diverse macroarthropod communities in times of drought

Verdonck, Sanne12; De Win, Yannick12; Nutter, Thomas1; Van Meerbeek, Koenraad1; Thomaes, Arno2; De Smedt, Pallieter3; Dekoninck, Wouter4; Hendrickx, Frederik4; Muys, Bart1

Published Jul 25, 2025 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f5b0

Data files

Jul 25, 2025 version files 1.13 MB

Abstract

Forest canopies play a vital role in buffering macroclimatic conditions, creating stable microclimates that support species unable to survive under the surrounding climate. However, disturbances driven by climate change alongside management interventions can disrupt canopy cover, altering forest microclimates and, consequently, forest-related biodiversity.

To investigate these dynamics, we monitored forest floor temperature, soil moisture, and macroarthropod communities along a canopy cover gradient in the National Park Brabantse Wouden, Belgium. Forest structure was inventoried in 2022 following the protocol of the Flemish Forest Inventory. The data was complemented by additional measurements in 2023 such as average litter depth, canopy cover estimations with a densiometer, vegetation surveys, and dead wood surveys using the line-intersect method. Forest microclimate (forest floor temperature and soil moisture) was recorded using TMS4-loggers throughout the 2022–2023 growing seasons at a 15-minute time scale and, subsequently, cleaned and aggregated at the daily scale (daily maximum forest floor temperature and soil volumetric water content). Macroarthropod activity-density and species richness were sampled using pitfall traps during the 2022 summer. The pitfall traps were emptied biweekly between June and October 2022, after which species were manually identified and counted. Generalized linear mixed models and piecewise structural equation modelling were used to assess the influence of forest structure. For a more detailed methodology, we refer to the related paper.

Paper synthesis: To sustain a stable and well-buffered microclimate, we recommend maintaining canopies as closed as possible. Even small openings reduce the forest’s ability to buffer temperature, with canopy covers below 50% leading to temperature amplification. Closed canopies should be combined with isolated canopy gaps to promote habitat heterogeneity. Additionally, deadwood amounts should increase to provide shelter during droughts. This balanced management approach fosters stable forest microclimates and diverse habitats, supporting long- and short-term macroarthropod biodiversity in temperate broadleaf forests.