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Our new paper is out now in @JAppliedEcology 'Riparian buffers act as microclimatic refugia in oil palm landscapes'. Interested in sustainable palm oil, microclimate, LiDAR, rainforest and edge effects 
? Results thread 
1/n @mattstruebig https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13784
? Results thread 1/n @mattstruebig https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13784
Riparian buffers are strips of non-production habitat () retained around rivers in agricultural landscapes () to protect water quality. There is increasing interest in their potential to act as habitat for terrestrial biodiversity. #TropiCon20 
@mattstruebig 2/n
) retained around rivers in agricultural landscapes () to protect water quality. There is increasing interest in their potential to act as habitat for terrestrial biodiversity. #TropiCon20 @mattstruebig 2/n
However, very little is known about the microclimate (temperature and humidity) of these set-asides and how this might impact biodiversity. @SarahHLuke deployed a large-scale microclimatic datalogger campaign in Malaysian Borneo to find out more! 3/n
For the first time, we show that the core of riparian buffers in oil palm (> 10m from an edge) are cooler and wetter than surrounding plantation, but hotter and drier than continuous forest controls. That said, buffer edges had higher maximum temperature than oil palm! 4/n
Oil palm is a perennial crop that can grow to form tall canopies with relatively cool conditions underneath. We propose that elevated temperature and dryness at the edges of riparian buffers was due to shorter vegetation associated with oil palm management. 5/n
By combining our microclimate data with those generated by an airborne LiDAR scan, we show that increased vegetation complexity, topographic sheltering and increased canopy height drive cool, wet conditions in these landscapes. @Tomswinfield 6/n
The width of riparian buffers was also vital for protecting microclimate, with riparian buffer conditions ~80-100m from the oil palm edge indistinguishable from continuous forest controls. @rossiterlab @HMTF_LOMBOK @SarahHLuke @solomilne 7/n
@solomilne 7/n
But how does all this affect biodiversity? Using a few plastic bottles and a bucket of human faeces (high-tech ) we show that dung beetle diversity is synergistically negatively impacted by narrower and hotter/drier buffers! @EleSlade @RobKnell1 8/n
) we show that dung beetle diversity is synergistically negatively impacted by narrower and hotter/drier buffers! @EleSlade @RobKnell1 8/n
We lend our voices to those calling for wider riparian buffers (~80m) and the restoration of degraded buffers to increase the environmental sustainability of oil palm landscapes. @CIFOR 9/n
Another thank-you to all the additional people/institutions who made this work possible - @OwenTLewis @tommaso_jucker Herry Heroin, Arthur Chung, Charles Vairappan, David Coomes, @London_NERC_DTP @Liyuen93 @JonathanParrett @red_termite 10/end
A further thank-you to @suipengheon for the fantastic Malaysian abstract, get in contact with her for scientific translations from either language! Also thanks to @Matilda_Brindle for some stellar proof reading. You lot are ace.
