Anthropogenic thermal gradient in managed landscapes determines physiological performance and explains the edge-biased distribution of ectothermic arthropods

Shelter, ecophysiology and conservation status of Plectostylus araucanus (Pulmonata: Bothriembryontidae) in the fragmented Maulino Forest, central Chile

“…On the other hand, P. araucanus lives at a low height level compared to the overall height of the trees in the forest (above 30 m), probably to avoid desiccation and thermal stress from the highest part of the trees, as has been documented in other land snails (Cowie, 1985). Finally, edge effect can produce a thermal gradient, with the environmental temperature increasing towards the edge of the fragment (Barahona-Segovia et al, 2019;Laurance et al, 2002;Tuff et al, 2016), which could have negative effects on the survival of land snails near the edge, especially in a global warming framework. In fact, we measured the survival of tree snails, being very low at the edge and increasing at 40 m to the interior of the native forest (Barahona-Segovia et al, 2019).…”

“…Finally, edge effect can produce a thermal gradient, with the environmental temperature increasing towards the edge of the fragment (Barahona-Segovia et al, 2019;Laurance et al, 2002;Tuff et al, 2016), which could have negative effects on the survival of land snails near the edge, especially in a global warming framework. In fact, we measured the survival of tree snails, being very low at the edge and increasing at 40 m to the interior of the native forest (Barahona-Segovia et al, 2019). Although these results suggest a potential relationship between temperature and survival, the approach of this work does not allow us to affirm that the low survival is due to physiological limitations of P. araucanus.…”

Edge creation changes the timing and intensity of phenological reproductive patterns and species activities in forest tree communities

“…It is widely known that forest fragmentation process alters microclimatic conditions (Ewers & Banks-Leite 2013;Ziter et al 2014;Couto-Santos et al 2015), so that biological processes like reproductive phenology and productivity will be affected, as well ectothermic arthropod abundance (Barahona-Segovia et al 2019). Species or individual changes at a forest edge, driven by microclimatic changes, could alter community phenological patterns (Athayde & Morellato 2014;Laurance et al 2003;Reznik et al 2012).…”

“…Temperature is another microclimatic variable associated with forest edge formation, with forest edges having higher and more variable temperatures (Laurance et al 2001;Barahona-Segovia et al 2019). Temperature variations are considered flowering triggers and can influence plant reproductive phenologies (Ramos & Santos 2005;Herrerías-Diego et al 2006;Rubim et al 2010).…”

Forestry clear‐cuts increase environmental temperatures, affecting the ecophysiological responses of specialized beetles in fragmented landscapes

“…However, habitat fragmentation creates more edges, resulting in altered microclimatic conditions in disturbed areas (Barahona‐Segovia, Crespin, et al., 2019; Chen et al., 1993, 1995; Kovács et al., 2017; Tuff et al., 2016). It has been shown that ambient temperatures in forest edges and clear‐cut stands are, on average, 2–7°C higher than in native forests in the USA, Czech Republic and Chile (Barahona‐Segovia, Crespin, et al., 2019; Chen et al., 1993; Hofmeister et al., 2019). This increase in air and soil temperature due to the loss of tall vegetation from clear‐cuts represents a strong stressor for specialist ectotherms (Ellis et al., 2012; Hashimoto & Suzuki, 2004; Tuff et al., 2016).…”