Tracking microhabitat temperature variation with iButton data loggers

Abstract

Premise of the Study Fine‐scale variation in temperature and soil moisture contribute to microhabitats across the landscape, affecting plant phenology, distribution, and fitness. The recent availability of compact and inexpensive temperature and humidity data loggers such as iB uttons has facilitated research on microclimates. Methods and Results Here, we highlight the use of iB uttons in three distinct settings: comparisons of empirical data to modeled climate data for rare rock ferns in the genus Asplenium in eastern North America; generation of fine‐scale data to predict flowering time and vernalization responsiveness of crop wild relatives of chickpea from southeastern Anatolia; and measurements of extreme thermal variation of solar array installations in Vermont. Discussion We highlight a range of challenges with iB uttons, including serious limitations of the Hygrochron function that affect their utility for measuring soil moisture, and methods for protecting them from the elements and from human interference. Finally, we provide MATLAB code to facilitate the processing of raw iB utton data.

Rocky habitats as microclimatic refuges for biodiversity. A close-up thermal approach

“…Repetitions through time allowed us to examine spatio-temporal heterogeneity at daily (both species) and seasonal (B. chouardii) scale. In situ miniaturized temperature datalogger sensors (ibuttons, thermochron-type; Maxim integrated) are able to record temperature at different time intervals, and they are becoming very popular to describe microclimates and produce more precise topoclimatic models (Fawcett et al, 2019). These loggers offer temperature profiles over time at fine temporal scale, but restricted to a single point in the population occupancy area.…”

Can we effectively manage parasites, prions, and pathogens in the global feed industry to achieve One Health?

“…The function of ibuttons is to verify that the product reaches the desired temperature and time during thermal processing. These ibuttons and similar brands of small data recorders have been evaluated for use in monitoring microhabitat temperature variations in natural landscapes (Fawcett et al, 2019).…”

Methods in belowground botany

“…Fawcett et al. () highlight three case studies where the use of iButtons allowed the authors (1) to characterize differences between modeled climate data and microhabitat‐level data for a rare fern, (2) to characterize fine‐scale variation in temperature for predicting phenology of wild chickpea, and (3) to characterize changes in microhabitat caused by a solar array installation. Additionally, authors provide MATLAB code to facilitate the processing of raw iButton data.…”

“…The remaining contribution to this issue highlights techniques that can be used with data logger technology to obtain valuable information, such as microhabitat variation in temperature and soil moisture, and demonstrates the importance of fine-scale spatial variability in understanding belowground plant ecology. Fawcett et al (2019) highlight three case studies where the use of iButtons allowed the authors (1) to characterize differences between modeled climate data and microhabitat-level data for a rare fern, (2) to characterize fine-scale variation in temperature for predicting phenology of wild chickpea, and (3) to characterize changes in microhabitat caused by a solar array installation. Additionally, authors provide MATLAB code to facilitate the processing of raw iButton data.…”