Climatic Preferences Research Articles

Leaf‐cutting ants use relative humidity and temperature but not CO2 levels as cues for the selection of an underground dumpsite

1. Leaf‐cutting ants remove copious amounts of colony waste, a potential pathogen source for workers and reared symbiotic fungus, to above‐ground heaps or deep underground chambers. However, the dumpsite may also contain information about plants initially harvested and disposed of because of unsuitability for the fungus.2. The underground environment presents climatic gradients across the soil profile and it is an open question whether leaf‐cutting ants use microclimatic cues to choose suitable sites for waste disposal, as displayed for other in‐nest tasks.3. Climatic preferences in leaf‐cutting ants were investigated for the deposition of colony waste. In the laboratory, deposition of waste particles by workers of Atta laevigata was quantified by offering them, in different experiments, a binary choice of temperatures (range, 15–30 °C), levels of air humidity (range 10–98%), and CO2 concentrations (range, atmospheric values to 10%).4. Leaf‐cutting ants used temperature and air humidity, but not CO2 levels, as cues for the deposition of their waste. They consistently preferred a dry (≤ 33% air humidity) environment. Less consistent, temperature preferences varied depending on colony (15–25 °C for one colony and 25–30 °C for the other). Although workers showed clear preferences for high levels of CO2 for themselves, they were CO2‐indifferent for waste deposition.5. It is argued that the observed climatic preferences for underground waste disposal might aid nest hygiene by providing unsuitable dry conditions for pathogen growth, with thermal preferences that do not hinder worker activities for further waste management and inspection of discarded plants.

Classification of tea (Camellia sinensis) landraces and cultivars in Kyoto, Japan and other regions, based on simple sequence repeat markers and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing analysis

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) of Japan is now thought to have originated in China. Actual cultivation of tea plants presumably started in Kyoto, and then spread to other regions of Japan. Tea gardens used to be composed of heterogenic, seed-derived populations—landraces—selected for climatic preferences and cultivation methods. Cultivars were bred from landraces in the modern era. A number of landraces remain in Kyoto Prefecture. However, little is known about their genetic characteristics compared with other landraces. We investigated the relationships of tea landraces and cultivars from Kyoto Prefecture and other regions. A neighbor-joining phylogram was constructed from 113 lines including 68 landraces, 44 cultivars, and one wild relative, based on simple sequence repeat markers. The lines could be classified into four groups (I–IV). In group I, most of the Kyoto landraces were close to other Japanese landraces, supporting the idea of the spread of tea plants from Kyoto to other regions in the country. The remaining lines were included into groups III and IV, apart from group II, which contained Shizuoka lines. Similar results were observed by restriction site-associated DNA sequencing analysis using 44 cultivars. Our data provide valuable information for the classification of tea lines, especially for the relationships of Kyoto lines among Japanese tea varieties.

Climatic preferences for beach tourism: an empirical study on Greek islands

The impacts of climate change are of primary importance for economic sectors whose proper operation greatly depends on climatic conditions; this is particularly true for beach tourism. Knowledge on climate preferences of tourists is essential for estimating the effects of changes in future climate to the climatic comfort of tourists, and consequently on their willingness to travel to specific destinations. In Southern Europe, changes of future temperature and precipitation are expected to be prominent but empirical studies on tourists’ climate preferences are still limited. The paper presents the results of a recent survey carried out on 13 Greek islands among beach tourists during high season (summer), conducted through questionnaires completed mainly at the beach but also at airports and hotels. Findings reveal that precipitation is a crucial climatic parameter for beach tourism, while climate preferences of tourists differ to some extent according to demographic and other characteristics. Based on the statistical analysis of responses, a utility function was built for ambient temperature, rain, cloudiness, and wind, and the weights of these parameters were estimated. Finally, a Beach Utility Index (BUI) incorporating the estimated climatic utility functions is proposed.

Morphological variation in black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) associated with environmental conditions in Mexico and the United States

Black cherries are native to North America and make up a complex of five morphologically different subspecies growing in significantly different niches. This study used 474 presence points, 19 climate parameters and altitude to: (1) describe climatic preference of subspecies, (2) associate the most discriminant bioclimatic variables with variation of 17 quantitative morphological descriptors and (3) estimate the potential effect of climate change in the distribution areas of the complex. Altitude and seven climatic parameters played a considerable role in the differentiation of subspecies (subsp.). Climate variability indicated that subsp. eximia, hirsuta and serotina are distributed in more humid and cold environments, while subsp. virens prefers drier and warmer environments. Subspecies capuli exhibited the greatest environmental heterogeneity. Morphological differences included longer, wider leaves and thicker fruit pedicel in subsp. capuli and shorter, smaller leaves in ssp. virens. Even though morphological variation associated with climate was relatively low, the study did show possible effects of climatic variability on morphology and distribution of the P. serotina complex and provided reference information that may be useful for an integrated description of its genetic resources. Climate change could cause genetic erosion due to the loss of suitable habitats. Studies on population genetics can increase understanding of the P. serotina complex and favor efficient strategic guidelines for use and conservation of these resources.

Range limits in sympatric cryptic species: a case study in Tetramorium pavement ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) across a biogeographical boundary

Abstract In the context of climate changes, factors that determine the distribution patterns of European species of the ubiquitous ant genus Tetramorium were investigated. The study took place along a steep North‐South climatic gradient across the boundary between the European Continental and Mediterranean biogeographical regions spanning 460 km along the Rhône valley, France. Ants from 1690 Tetramorium colonies were collected in 19 sampling zones. Species were identified using an integrative approach based on a two‐step process combining nuclear DNA (14 microsatellite markers), morphological examination and mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I sequencing. The impact of climate on species distribution patterns was tested using bioclimatic variables. Species discrimination was successful, despite a complex situation with cryptic species, inter‐specific hybridisation and uneven sampling across species. Our results showed a strong effect of latitude, temperature and rainfall on the distribution of three of four species. Tetramorium semilaeve was found only south of the boundary, in warmer and dryer sites; Tetramorium caespitum extended north and 70 km south of the boundary and favoured colder sites with strong seasonal variation. Tetramorium immigrans was absent from the northernmost sampling zones and favoured warmer and wetter sites. Tetramorium moravicum was mostly found close to the boundary, but without significant climatic preferences. The fundamental role of climate as a factor limiting the ranges of these species at a major biogeographical boundary is confirmed. Monitoring range limits of these strongly climate‐dependant species may offer exciting insights on the impact of climate changes on species distributions.

Evolutionary and ecological success is decoupled in mammals.

AimTo identify which factors distinguish ecologically successful mammalian clades (i.e., clades with a large combined range size) from less successful ones.LocationGlobal.MethodsWe estimated the total range sizes for each individual mammalian subfamily and used phylogenetic regressions to identify the relative importance of factors related to colonization ability (body size and niche width) and adaptability (rate of evolution of body size and rate of evolution of climatic preference) in determining these ranges. We then estimated the importance of the same factors on the variation in diversification rate within mammals.ResultsWe found strong support for a link between total range size and traits related to colonization ability. In particular, we found larger total range sizes among clades containing larger bodied species and clades with wider climatic niche width, while we did not find support for any predictors related to adaptability being linked to total range size. We also found that traits related to increased range size were associated with reduced diversification rate.Main ConclusionsRange size for mammalian clades is mainly predicted by colonization ability, suggesting that most clades are limited by dispersal rather than their ability to adapt to new environments. The most ecologically successful (i.e., most widespread) mammalian clades tend to possess traits that reduce geographical isolation among populations, but the same traits tend to decrease diversification rates. Our results unveil a decoupling between evolutionary and ecological success in mammals.

Reconstruction of paleovegetation and paleoecology from the Early Cretaceous sporomorphs of Bougaz-1 well, northeast Sinai, Egypt

A WELL-preserved, diverse sporomorph assemblage of 62 species belonging to 39 genera has been recorded in two Cretaceous (Aptian/Albian) samples recovered from depths 3105m and 3117m in the Bougaz-1 well, northeast Sinai. The identified 62 species consist of 20 genera and 27 species of pteridophytic fern spores, nine genera and 15 species of gymnosperm pollen, and 10 genera and 20 species of angiosperm pollen. A correlation of the encountered sporomorphs and their parent plant affinities (classes, orders and families) has been attempted in order to give an image of the past vegetation in this part of Egypt. Vegetation reconstruction demonstrates a mixed forest which is represented by a mixture of ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. A remarkable abundance of pteridophytic fern spores with other hygrophilous elements such as Afropollis pollen seems to indicate paleoclimatic trends towards warm humid conditions during the Aptian/Albian period in the studied area. This climatic preference is also confirmed by the low frequencies of conifer vegetation such as Araucariaceae, Cheirolepidiaceae and genetalean pollen (Ephedripites) which were predominant on the topographically higher and relatively xeric environments.

Climatic differentiation in polyploid apomictic Ranunculus auricomus complex in Europe

BackgroundPolyploidy and apomixis are important factors influencing plant distributions often resulting in range shifts, expansions and geographical parthenogenesis. We used the Ranunculus auricomus complex as a model to asses if the past and present distribution and climatic preferences were determined by these phenomena.ResultsEcological differentiation among diploids and polyploids was tested by comparing the sets of climatic variables and distribution modelling using 191 novel ploidy estimations and 561 literature data. Significant differences in relative genome size on the diploid level were recorded between the “auricomus” and “cassubicus” groups and several new diploid occurrences were found in Slovenia and Hungary. The current distribution of diploids overlapped with the modelled paleodistribution (22 kyr BP), except Austria and the Carpathians, which are proposed to be colonized later on from refugia in the Balkans. Current and historical presence of diploids from the R. auricomus complex is suggested also for the foothills of the Caucasus. Based on comparisons of the climatic preferences polyploids from the R. auricomus complex occupy slightly drier and colder habitats than the diploids.ConclusionsThe change of reproductive mode and selection due to competition with the diploid ancestors may have facilitated the establishment of polyploids within the R. auricomus complex in environments slightly cooler and drier, than those tolerated by diploid ancestors. Much broader distribution of polyploid apomicts may have been achieved due to faster colonization mediated by uniparental reproductive system.

Predicting the potential invasion of kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Heteroptera: Plataspidae), in North and South America and determining its climatic preference

Biological invasions have long placed challenges on ecosystems, agricultural production, and human health. Modeling potential invasion of an introduced organism becomes a critical tool for early management of damaging species, such as kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera:Heteroptera:Plataspidae). Since it was first found in the United States in 2009, kudzu bug has spread rapidly, economically impacted agricultural production, and became a household pest. To better predict the potential invasion of kudzu bug in North and South America, we used the species distribution models Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production (GARP) and Maximum Entropy (Maxent). We used the D metric to test for niche equivalency and similarity between native and invaded populations of kudzu bug. We found that kudzu bugs currently occupied unequal environmental space between the two ranges. Therefore, distribution models using GARP and Maxent were constructed using occurrences in both native and invaded ranges. Area under the curve (AUC), true skill statistics (TSS), and omission rate (OR) were used to evaluate and compare the models. Results indicated both models had good performance, but Maxent (AUC = 0.971, TSS = 0.946, OR = 0.019) performed better than GARP (AUC = 0.922, TSS = 0.860, OR = 0.037). This research confirmed the effectiveness of using occurrence data in both ranges to predict potential invasions. Kudzu bugs prefer warm (annual mean temperature around 15 °C) and humid (annual mean precipitation around 1300 mm) regions. Distribution models generated by both methods indicated similar regions with high invasion risk. Management programs that include quarantine and prevention measures are suggested for these regions to avoid outbreaks of kudzu bug.

Perspectives on solar geoengineering from Finnish Lapland: Local insights on the global imaginary of Arctic geoengineering

“Solar geoengineering” or albedo modification—changing the reflectivity of the earth, using methods like placing particles in the stratosphere—has been proposed as a means to potentially cool the Arctic and forestall climate tipping points. However, this concept has remained a global imaginary, grounded in coarse-resolution climate modeling. How do people actually living in the Arctic imagine themselves experiencing or shaping solar geoengineering? How can the experience of people in particular places inform discussions of solar geoengineering governance? This paper synthesizes perspectives from extended interviews with citizen stakeholders in Finnish Lapland. Rather than approaching solar geoengineering from the perspective of Arctic or local interests, respondents took a global view of its prospects and governance. However, the idea of solar geoengineering also sparked deeper discussions about northern or Arctic ways of living in the Anthropocene: how to coexist with loss and unfamiliar climates, relocalization and new rural livelihoods in the north, and dematerialization of northern economies. The results challenge some common tacit assumptions in geoengineering governance discourse: (1) that people’s climate preferences are obvious or quantifiable; (2) that individuals will look at solar geoengineering through an personal, utilitarian lens, or as a game of maximizing benefits to their region, when in fact they may have a cosmopolitan or interconnected systems-perspective; and (3) that states act in the interests of their citizens, when in fact they may act in the interests of elites.

Forecasting range shifts of a cold‐adapted species under climate change: are genomic and ecological diversity within species crucial for future resilience?

Cold‐adapted taxa are experiencing severe range shifts due to climate change and are expected to suffer a significant reduction of their climatically suitable habitats in the next few decades. However, it has been proposed that taxa with sufficient standing genetic and ecologic diversity will better withstand climate change. These taxa are typically more broadly distributed in geographic and ecological niche space, therefore they are likely to endure higher levels of populations loss than more restricted, less diverse taxa before the effects of those losses impact their overall diversity and resilience. Here, we explore the potential relationship between intraspecific genetic and ecological diversity and future resilience, using the cold‐adapted plant Primula farinosa. We employ high‐throughput sequencing to assess the genomic diversity of phylogeographic lineages in P. farinosa. Additionally, we use current climatic variables to define niche breadth and niche differentiation across lineages. Finally, we calibrate species distribution models (SDMs) and project the climatic preferences of each lineage on future climate to predict lineage‐specific shifts in climatically suitable habitats. Our study predicts relative persistence of future suitable habitats for the most genetically and ecologically diverse lineages of the cold‐adapted P. farinosa, but significant reduction of them for two out of its four lineages. While we do not provide specific experiments aimed at identifying the causal links between genetic diversity and resilience to climate change, our results indicate that greater genetic diversity and wider ecological breadth may buffer species responses to rapid climatic changes. This study further highlights the importance of integrating knowledge of intraspecific diversity for predicting species fate in response to climate change.

Influence of phylogenetic relatedness on paleoclimate estimation using fossil wood: Vessel and fiber-related traits

Wood anatomical traits have been historically used as a climate inference tool. During the last 20years, the use of more formal statistical approaches has allowed the field to start moving from general qualitative paleoclimate inference to quantitative estimates. These estimates are derived from the correlation between wood anatomical traits and climate, however the role of shared evolutionary history in this relationship has not been assessed. Greater influence of phylogenetic relatedness on trait variation (phylogenetic conservatism) would entail a reduction of wood trait variation due to environmental convergence, the central premise of the paleoclimate inference approach using fossil wood. Here, we analyzed the role of phylogenetic relatedness in the relationship between wood anatomical traits and climate. We also assessed the strength of phylogenetic signal in wood traits and climate preferences, as well as their most likely mode of evolution. Although we found similar trends in the phylogenetically uninformed and informed regressions, the fit of the latter models was better for every trait. We also found moderate but significant non-random phylogenetic signal in all traits but potential hydraulic conductivity and vulnerability index. Our results suggest that despite adaptive evolution is driving the relationship between wood anatomy and climate, a significant role of phylogenetic signal indicates that paleoclimate estimates using fiber and vessel traits are subject to broader errors than initially anticipated.

Knowing climate as a social-ecological-atmospheric construct

Abstract Climate perception, broadly construed, can include interpretations of experienced climate, beliefs about how climate works or changes, attitudes about climate issues such as the human role in climate change, and even climate preferences. The recent literature has stressed three main themes: attitudes and beliefs about anthropogenic climate change, climate literacy, and experienced knowledge of climate change. This study focuses on how people come to “know” climate, not just climate change, in a more fundamental way. To discern the structure of these knowledges we conducted semi-structured interviews of residents of a basin in the U.S. Rocky Mountains whose livelihoods and avocations bring them in routine contact with weather, climate, and landscape. Analysis of their climate knowledge in three categories, features, processes, and benchmarks, and placed in perspective of previous research on climate knowledges, yielded three findings. 1) People often focus on climate-related proxies that might be disregarded as tangential within narrow definitions of climate. 2) People use rubrics to structure climate knowledge, they understand climate as relational and connected. 3) Climate knowledge does not isolate individual climate elements, but accentuates the complex way that many processes together constitute climate. These findings reveal that, for our interviewees, climate is a social-ecological-atmospheric construct. This has both theoretical and methodological implications for future research on climate perception and illuminates the challenge of linking perception to effective mitigation and adaptation.

Climate Preferences, Obesity, and Unobserved Heterogeneity in Cities

Some sources of heterogeneity among cities, i.e. age, gender, race, income, and education, have been the object of substantial inquiry. The reasons are obvious. These differences are easily observed and may have important implications for economic activity. This study considers another potentially important population characteristic, obesity. Descriptive statistics reveal that the intercity variance in obesity rates is substantial. Empirical results demonstrate that demographic and regional amenity variables all help to explain intercity differences in obesity. Because obesity is important for climate preferences, health, and productivity, its omission from previous studies and its correlation with amenity and demographic characteristics could create problems for empirical research.

<p class="MsoTitle"><span lang="EN-GB">Magnolia montebelloensis</span><span lang="EN-GB">, a new species in section Magnolia from Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Chiapas, México, with a key to Magnoliaceae of Chiapas</span>

A new species of Magnolia, from the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, in the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Magnolia montebelloensis belongs to section Magnolia; it differs from M. poasana in its smaller habit, densely pubescent terminal twig internodes, stipules and spathaceous bracts, shorter peduncular internodes and more numerous stamens. A key, an ecological and a conservation assessment of the eight Chiapan species of Magnoliaceae are included. Magnolia montebelloensis grows in montane rain forest and is contrasted with other Chiapan Magnolia species regarding their climate and vegetation preferences. It was assessed as critically endangered (CR) according to IUCN B1ab(ii, iii) and B2ab(iii) criteria. Half of Magnolia species in Chiapas occur in protected natural areas, and thus immediate action is required to protect the other four species, M. faustinomirandae, M. mayae, M. sharpii and M. zamudioi. Seven out of the eight Magnolia species (88%) are not found in ex-situ collections despite being endangered or critically endangered.

Vegetation cover of Brazil in the last 21 ka: New insights into the Amazonian refugia and Pleistocenic arc hypotheses

AbstractAimThe two main hypotheses about the Neotropical palaeovegetation, namely that of Amazonian refugia by Haffer and of the Pleistocene arc by Prado and Gibbs, are still constantly debated. We offer new insights on this debate using ecological niche modelling with combined climate–soil predictors to test both hypotheses, reconstruct the palaeovegetation of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 21 ka) and Mid‐Holocene (Mid‐H; 6 ka) and indicate the configuration of refugia areas.LocationBrazil.Time periodLast 21 ka.Major taxa studiedBiomes.MethodsWe modelled the environmental space of the 10 most representative biomes with the RandomForest classifier, using climate predictors from three atmospheric general circulation models (CCSM4, MPI‐ESM‐P and MIROC‐ESM) and soil predictors, the same for the different situations. Based on the consensus among the models, we reconstructed the palaeovegetation cover for LGM and Mid‐H and used fossil pollen sites to validate the reconstructions in a direct comparison.ResultsThe climate in the past was cooler and wetter throughout most of the territory. The Amazon basin region was the most affected by climate change in the last 21 ka, with equatorial rain forest retracting to refugia areas, while the tropical rain forest (with climatic preferences similar to the Atlantic forest) expanded in the basin. In southern Brazil, the mixed forest (Araucaria forest) shifted to lower latitudes, while the grasslands expanded. In most biomes, the greatest changes occurred in the ecotonal zones, supported by pollen fossils.Main conclusionsWith regard to Haffer's hypothesis, the forests of the Amazonian lowlands retreated to refugia areas, while the colder and wetter climate of the basin created a favourable niche for another type of forest, instead of savanna. The advance of dry vegetation was restricted to ecotonal conditions, preventing the formation of a continuous Pleistocene arc, predicted by Prado and Gibbs's hypothesis.

Differential temperature preferences and thresholds among summer campers in Ontario’s southern provincial parks: a Canadian case study in tourism climatology

Weather and climate are important factors in relation to outdoor recreation and tourism. Camping and park visitation are weather sensitive activities very likely to be impacted by projected climate change. Temperature is the weather variable that has received the greatest attention within the tourism climatology literature and was the greatest predictor of park visitation within previous assessments. This study uses a stated climate preferences approach, relying on survey-based data, to explore differences for temperature preferences and thresholds among campers in Ontario parks. Statistically significant differences (at the 95% confidence level) in mean values for temperature preferences and thresholds were recorded based on various camper characteristics, such as the following: activity selection, age, gender, distance travelled, length of stay, life cycle stage, camping experience, and camping equipment. Swimmers preferred warmer day-time temperatures. Older campers preferred cooler temperatures and were more sensitive to heat stress, in the day and night time. Females preferred warmer temperatures and were less sensitive to heat stress during the night time. Campers who had travelled further distances to reach the park or planned to stay for longer periods were less sensitive to heat stress. Campers with children in their group preferred warmer temperatures and were less sensitive to heat stress, in the day and at night. Respondents with higher levels of camping experience preferred warmer temperatures at night. Tent campers were less sensitive to heat stress, in the day and at night. The results of this study have direct implications for previous and future climate change impact assessments on park visitation.

Phylogeography and Ecological Niche Modeling of the Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis, Baird & Girard 1852) in the Baja California Peninsula.

Understanding the factors that explain the patterns of genetic structure or phylogeographic breaks at an intraspecific level is key to inferring the mechanisms of population differentiation in its early stages. These topics have been well studied in the Baja California region, with vicariance and the dispersal ability of individuals being the prevailing hypothesis for phylogeographic breaks. In this study, we evaluated the phylogeographic patterns in the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis), a species with a recent history in the region and spatial variation in life history traits. We analyzed a total of 307 individuals collected throughout 19 localities across the Baja California Peninsula with 15 microsatellite DNA markers. Our data reveal the existence of 3 geographically discrete genetic populations with moderate gene flow and an isolation-by-distance pattern presumably produced by the occurrence of a refugium in the Cape region during the Pleistocene Last Glacial Maximum. Bayesian methods and ecological niche modeling were used to assess the relationship between population genetic structure and present and past climatic preferences of the desert iguana. We found that the present climatic heterogeneity of the Baja California Peninsula has a marked influence on the population genetic structure of the species, suggesting that there are alternative explanations besides vicariance. The information obtained in this study provides data allowing a better understanding of how historical population processes in the Baja California Peninsula can be understood from an ecological perspective.

Primera aproximación a las preferencias climáticas para la práctica del senderismo en España

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto dar a conocer una primera aproximación inédita a las preferencias climáticas para la práctica del senderismo en España. Para ello se ha puesto en práctica la técnica de la encuesta, procedimiento de uso habitual en climatología turística. El cuestionario se ha elaborado teniendo en cuenta el marco teórico y metodológico en climatología turística, basado en la influencia de las facetas atmosféricas en el disfrute, confort, salud y riesgo de los turistas. Los resultados reflejan ciertas particularidades en las preferencias climáticas de quiénes practican el senderismo sobre otras actividades turísticas. En futuros trabajos se pretende seguir ahondando en el conocimiento de la relación clima-senderismo.

Differences in the importance of weather and weather-based decisions among campers in Ontario parks (Canada).

Parks and protected areas represent an important resource for tourism in Canada, in which camping is a common recreational activity. The important relationship between weather and climate with recreation and tourism has been widely acknowledged within the academic literature. Howbeit, the need for activity-specific assessments has been identified as an on-going need for future research in the field of tourism climatology. Furthermore, very little is known about the interrelationships between personal characteristics and socio-demographics with weather preferences and behavioural thresholds. This study uses a stated climate preferences approach (survey responses) to explore differences in the importance of weather and related weather-based decisions among summer campers in Ontario parks. Statistically significant differences were found among campers for each of the four dependent variables tested in this study. Physically active campers placed greater importance on weather but were still more tolerant of adverse weather conditions. Older campers placed greater importance on weather. Campers travelling shorter distances placed greater importance on weather and were more likely to leave the park early due to adverse weather. Campers staying for longer periods of time were less likely to leave early due to weather and were willing to endure longer durations of adverse weather conditions. Beginner campers placed greater importance on weather, were more likely to leave early due to weather and recorded lower temporal weather thresholds. The results of this study contribute to the study of tourism climatology by furthering understanding of how personal characteristics such as gender, age, activity selection, trip duration, distance travelled, travel experience and life cycles affect weather preferences and decisions, focusing this time on recreational camping in a park tourism context.