Forest Floor Under Deciduous vs Coniferous Understorey

Abstract

This study investigated the insulative properties of moss layers and their effect on microclimate temperatures within deciduous and coniferous understories at British Columbia Ecological Reserve #74. Employing small environment data receiving objects (EDROs), temperatures were monitored both above and below the moss layers and compared to ambient sub-canopy temperatures, exterior to the understorey layer, to delineate the thermal buffering capacity of moss and forest understorey. Over two rounds of three consecutive days, each EDRO recorded approximately 731 to 2122 temperature measurements per round, providing detailed temporal profiles of each microclimate. Results indicated significant differences in temperature regulation by moss; below-moss temperatures were consistently more stable compared to more fluctuating temperatures recorded above the moss and in ambient conditions. Deciduous and coniferous sites saw variations between trials without a clear trend for the understorey type’s effect on moss insulation. The study confirmed significant differences across the vertical stratifications and concluded that moss layers significantly moderate ground temperatures, enhancing stability against external temperature fluctuations. However, the results of this study cannot suggest that understorey type influences the magnitude of ground temperature insulation by moss.