Table 3 Effect of thinning on microclimatic variables and understory development

Light (PAR) transmission (%)

14.7 ± 2.1 A

35.6 ± 3.9 B

62.9 ± 6.9 C

10.4 ± 0.5 a

19.4 ± 3.7 b

37.9 ± 3.6 c

Summer¹ daily mean temperature (°C)

25.0 ± 0.1 A

25.2 ± 0.2 A

25.3 ± 0.3 A

24.3 ± 0.1 a

24.5 ± 0.1 a

24.5 ± 0.1 a

Summer¹ daily maximum temperature (°C)

34.0 ± 0.2 A

35.8 ± 0.5 B

36.0 ± 0.1 B

30.8 ± 0.1 a

33.0 ± 0.4 b

34.8 ± 0.4 c

Summer¹ daily mean Vapour Pressure Deficit (kPa)

2.08 ± 0.02 A

2.16 ± 0.05 B

2.20 ± 0.06 B

1.31 ± 0.01 a

1.36 ± 0.02 a

1.41 ± 0.02 b

Summer¹ daily maximum Vapour Pressure Deficit (kPa)

4.34 ± 0.06 A

4.84 ± 0.16 B

4.93 ± 0.05 B

2.77 ± 0.02 a

3.31 ± 0.12 b

3.86 ± 0.14 c

Herb cover (%)

0.3 ± 0.2 A

5.2 ± 2.2 B

21.4 ± 9.9 C

0.0 ± 0.0 a

0.1 ± 0.0 a

0.2 ± 0.1 a

Shrub cover (%)

5.5 ± 2.0 A

33.9 ± 18.0 B

14.2 ± 7.6 A

5.7 ± 0.9 a

22.1 ± 1.4 b

33.5 ± 1.3 c

Shrub height (cm)

11.4 ± 4.0 A

25.3 ± 13.4 A

16.4 ± 5.6 A

52.6 ± 4.6 a

59.9 ± 2.6 a

73.1 ± 2.1 b