TITLE:
Spatial Variability of Microclimate Characteristics in Transition Zone of the Forest: A Case Study of Slătioara Secular Forest
AUTHORS:
Marius Dan Șandru
KEYWORDS:
Component, Forest Microclimate, Edge Effects, Edge-Interior Relationships, Forest Buffer Zone, Edge Influence, Microclimatic Influences
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.14 No.4,
August
15,
2024
ABSTRACT: Although the importance of forest margins in ecology is recognized, no study has been carried out in the Slătioara Secular Forest Reserve with reference to the variability of abiotic parameters along forest margins. With this study, we investigate to what extent microclimatic variables (air temperature—T_air, air humidity—H_air, soil temperature—T_soil, soil humidity—H_soil wind intensity (WIND) and photosynthetically active radiation intensity (PAR)) are correlated with the distance from the edge to the forest interior and the habitat type (forest interior, inner and outer edge and meadow) in the Slătioara Secular Forest Reserve. In order to measure these microenvironment variables we used the strip transect method, positioned perpendicular to the forest edge. Differences in the microenvironment variables considered in the analysis between the four habitat types were assessed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey-test post-hoc. To assess differences along transects, each of the six measurements went through a one-way ANOVA against distance to edge, followed by a Levene’s test for variances and finally a Tukey-test post-hoc. The results indicate that the values of microclimatic variables were significantly different in relation to the gradient of distance from the edge and to the habitat type (interior-exterior forest) and that edge habitats are significantly more susceptible to lower humidity, high winds, lower light and higher air temperatures than forest interior habitats. The ecological study of the edge areas in this reserve provides the basis for future research on forest dynamics and can guide conservation efforts to maintain the diversity and endemism of species in the Slătioara Secular Forest.