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Thermal Properties of Tree Cavities During Winter in a Northern Hardwood Forest
Author(s) -
Coombs Andrea B.,
Bowman Jeff,
Garroway Colin J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.2193/2009-560
Subject(s) - snag , diameter at breast height , hardwood , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , thermoregulation , tree (set theory) , thermal , mean radiant temperature , climate change , ecology , biology , meteorology , geography , geology , mathematics , mathematical analysis , habitat
Tree cavities likely vary in their thermal quality for cavity‐nesting animals, which could be especially important during winter. We conducted a winter field experiment to test whether cavities vary either in their buffering capacity or in their mean temperature according to predictable characteristics. We found that cavities buffered temperature and that there was a lag effect in temperature that appeared to be related to heating and cooling. Diameter at breast height was the most important variable influencing cavity temperature during the day, with smaller trees warming up more. During the night, diameter at breast height and tree decay class were important, such that larger, live trees cooled down less. Maintaining live trees with cavities in managed forests should be considered in addition to snag retention, because live trees appear to provide warmer structures during winter.