2.3.1 Distribution pattern of microclimate and microhabitat
structure
We quantified microclimate (air temperature, relative humidity and PPFD)
as well as changes in microhabitat structure (total leaf area) along
both vertical and horizontal gradients. To be consistent with the
assemblage data, we calculated the mean air temperature and relative
humidity at the same scale (5 m vertical interval) at which the ants
were sampled. We expect microclimate and microhabitat structure to
change directionally along vertical gradients due to canopy buffering
effects, but to vary in a non-directional manner horizontally. As such,
we ran separately four linear regression models for air temperature,
relative humidity, PPFD and leaf area, with vertical height above ground
as a continuous explanatory variable and horizontal position of vertical
transects as a categorical explanatory variable.