Microclimates at the land–air interface affect the physiological functioning of organisms
which, in turn, influences the structure, composition, and functioning of ecosystems. We …

In natural ecosystems, plants compete for space, nutrients and light. The optically dense
canopies limit the penetration of photosynthetically active radiation and light often becomes …

Although numerous species distribution models have been developed, most were based on
insufficient distribution data or used older climate change scenarios. We aimed to quantify …

Aim Forest understorey microclimates are often buffered against extreme heat or cold, with
important implications for the organisms living in these environments. We quantified …

Shade, in ecological sense, is not merely a lack of light, but a multi-faceted phenomenon
that creates new and complex settings for community and ecosystem dynamics. Tolerating …

It has been suggested that diverse forests utilize canopy space more efficiently than species‐
poor ones, as mixing species with complementary architectural and physiological traits …

Light gradients are ubiquitous in nature, so all plants are exposed to some degree of shade
during their lifetime. The minimum light required for survival, shade tolerance, is a crucial life …

The number, size, and location of gaps in a forest canopy have a direct influence on the
availability and distribution of understory light. The quantity and spectral quality of this …

Variation in plant functional traits results from evolutionary and environmental drivers that
operate at a variety of different scales, which makes it a challenge to differentiate among …

In this review, we highlight the main biotic and abiotic factors that influence the patterns of
Neotropical secondary forest successions, referred as the woody vegetation that regrows …