It may be that the surrounding, established plantation of indigenous species at DK generated a favourable microclimate for kauri growth.
The stylish 25 Mile in Cardigan has done just that, sourcing most of its food from within a drovers' 25-mile radius, an area that encompasses Cardigan Bay and a coast with a favourable microclimate.
Anthills were preferred as larval habitats by Z. purpuralis as they combine two essential elements for successful larval development: (i) a favourable microclimate thanks to an open vegetation structure and (ii) a sufficient amount of food.
Secondly, gut-passed seeds are deposited in a favourable microclimate with plenty of nutrients, which our results showed leads to better growth and a lower susceptibility to natural enemies.
A classic example of facilitation is the increased survival of cactus seedlings under nurse plants, which are adults of shrubs species whose proximity provides a favourable microclimate.
There is increasing evidence that such small spots with a favourable microclimate existed in the periglacial area of central Europe [ 19] and were presumed to have provided refuges for comparatively cold resistant snail species [ 7].
On the other hand, high plant species richness is often best attained under moderate grazing regimes (Olff & Ritchie, 1998; Wilson et al., 2012) and many thermophilous insects, including many butterflies depend on favourable microclimates (Bourn & Thomas, 2002) created by more intensive grazing (see Section III.2 2004).
The expected increase in temperature during the 21st century will be most stressful for cold-adapted and stenothermic mountain species, forcing them to migrate upwards, and eventually to concentrate into either large areas with favourable climates (refugia) or small stands under locally favourable microclimates (microrefugia).
For instance, behavioural adjustments (e.g. modifying daily activity patterns and selecting favourable microclimates; [ 2]) can buffer the impact of sub-optimal temperatures, and are the main means of thermoregulation in small insects [ 3- 5].
However, the effect of microclimate on human perception has not been considered in commercial street.
