Edge microclimate of temperate woodlands as affected by adjoining land use

Abstract

While edge microclimates are well described for closed forests, they remain under-examined in more sparse vegetation types like the temperate woodlands of south-eastern Australia. This limits predictions of edge effects on remnant vegetation in cleared agricultural landscapes, and of changes in these effects with reforestation. Using fixed and roving weather stations, we examined influences on temperate woodland microclimate of adjoining land use (agriculture versus tree plantation), distance from edge (0-150m), and woodland structural attributes (canopy openness, stem density and basal area). Shading by plantations significantly decreased temperatures and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) at wo..