Tree diversity increases forest temperature buffering

Abstract

Summary paragraphGlobal warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of climate extremes1. Forests may buffer such extreme events by creating their own microclimate below their canopy via cooling hot and insulating against cold macroclimate air temperatures2,3. This buffering capacity of forests may be increased by tree diversity4,5and may itself maintain forest functioning and biodiversity6,7. However, despite its relevance for many ecosystem processes, the effect of tree diversity on temperature buffering is largely unexplored. Here, we show that tree species richness consistently increases forest temperature buffering across daily, monthly, and annual scales over six years. This finding is based on data from a large-scale tree diversity experiment covering a species richness gradient of 1 to 24 tree species. We found that species richness strengthened both components of forest temperature buffering2,6: the attenuation of hot and of cold macroclimate air temperatures, with the cooling effect being more pronounced. The buffering effect of tree species richness was mediated by canopy density and structural diversity, assessed as leaf area index and stand structural complexity index5, respectively. Safeguarding and planting diverse forests8may thus mitigate negative effects of global warming and climate extremes on ecosystem functions and communities below the tree canopy.