In the literature, I have found the use of microclimate, microhabitat and microenvironment interchangeable. I want to know which one is the best term to explain species diversity in the forest communities.
Hi,
So, Micro is obviously talking about small spatial scales.
Microclimate is referring to climatic variables like barometric pressure, humidity and temperature, as well as the factors they control, like evapotranspiration rates. These things can vary over small distances, like the hummock vs. hollow in a peatland. But this might also refer to climatic trends over sub-regions, like how the great lakes create snow belts and moderate local temperatures.
In contrast microhabitat is referring to the site itself. It may be the hummock or hollow, or it may be on top of a nursery log. It is any location where habitat conditions are locally different than the surrounding matrix. Typically it is in reference to a certain species or community that requires those particular habitat conditions. E.g. the microhabitat where snakes might hibernate.
Microenvironment is a bit of a combination of the two. The particular microhabitat will most likely have slightly different climatic conditions, yielding an associated microclimate.
I hope this helps!
To the best of my knowledge a microclimate is the climate of the immediate surroundings or habitat as a result of influence of local topography, vegetation and soil. Microhabitat is a small specialized habitat; microenveirnment.
I fully agree with Rebecca Rooney's very clear and correct explanation
I am agree with Monhan Devkota, his concept of microclimate is clear to me, and Microhabitat too
I agree with Rebecca: microenvironment is a combination of both microclimate and microhabitat at a local scale generated by local processes. Cavities in dead wood is an example.
Best,
GL
I would use microenvironment to refer to (as others have mentioned) a combination of the microclimate and microhabitat. Microenvironment implies all biotic and abiotic interactions at some small (micro) spatial level including: inter and intra specific densities, resource availability, predator densities - plus the climatic and habitat variables.
For example, a microhabitat could refer to a hollow log for some species, say an ant - and would include the log, the leaf litter, dirt and fungi. The microclimate would be the available temperatures and humidity in the log. The microenvironment would include the density of other ants, the number of prey items, and any predators - plus the log (microhabitat), plus the distribution of temperature (microclimate).
Although we often use the words habitat and environment interchangeably, when it comes down to it, they really are not the same. Excellent question.
I agree with Rebecca but also Casey Brewster gave a better elaboration regarding the relation of microhabitat and microclimate to micro-environment
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