Favorable Microclimate Research Articles

Current state of protective forest plantations with Sophora japonica (Sophora japonica L.) in the southern regions of Ukraine

The results of studies of the state, growth dynamics and agroforestry efficiency of shelterbelt forest plantations of different species composition in the southern regions of Ukraine are presented. The positive impact of shelterbelt forest plantations on the state of agricultural land is noted, which is manifested in the termination of water and wind erosion, accumulation of moisture in the soil, creation of a favourable microclimate in crops, increase in overall biodiversity, which leads to yield enhancement of field crops by 15 %. Their optimal species composition, parameters and optimal structure in the respective types of habitat conditions are determined. The current state and silvicultural and taxation indicators of shelterbelts were analyzed. A survey of plantations with Sophora japonica growing on the territory of Odesa and Mykolaiv regions was conducted. In these plantations, the heights and diameters of trees were measured, their condition was established, planting schemes were established for the creation of 2-4-6-row forest strips, and their current density at the age of 30 to 96 years was determined. Field-protective belts with Sophora japonica compared to Quercus robur, which are created on ordinary black soils, are well adapted to the arid climate. They have significantly higher productivity in all types of plantings and are endowed with a whole complex of high adaptive and economically valuable features, thanks to which they can be widely used in planting field-protective forest belts. It has been established that the current state of protective forest plantations is significantly negatively affected by anthropogenic factors: trees are damaged by unauthorized fellings, every year, a significant part of them is damaged by fire during the stubble burning, the plantations located near the settlement are used as a place for storing household and other waste, and uncontrolled grazing is carried out. To increase the effectiveness of protective forest plantations, we recommend bringing the plantations into proper sanitary condition through selective sanitary felling; to carry out reconstruction in the field protection plantations, as well as to organize monitoring of pest foci and control unauthorized fellings. Key words: forest shelter belt, reconstruction, main species, sanitary condition of a plantation, steppe zone, productivity.

Relationship between Nest and Body Temperature and Microclimate in the Paper Wasp Polistes dominula.

The paper wasp Polistes dominula is a thermophilic species originating from the Mediterranean climate, but is now widely spread in Europe. They live in quite differing habitats; and as synanthropic species, they have been established in human settlement areas. They build a single small comb at protected places with a favorable microclimate. We measured the temperature of the wasps, the nests and their environment at typical nesting sides in Austria (Europe) in the temperate climate, in order to reveal relationships between nest and body temperature and the habitats' microclimate. The temperatures of the comb and of the wasps' body were in a wide range (~20-37 °C) above the ambient air temperature at the nest. This is an advantage as higher temperatures accelerate the development speed of the brood. However, the mean comb temperature did not exceed approximately 38.6 °C. This was managed by cooling efforts of the adult wasps. The ambient air temperature near the nest (~1-2 cm) was always clearly elevated above the ambient air temperature at a local standard weather station in the habitat. A comparison with climate-model-generated macroclimate data revealed the necessity of measuring microclimate data for a reliable description of the insects' thermal environment.

Optimization of microclimate parameters in sports frame and tent facilities

The paper considers measures to optimize energy costs in the heating of frame and tent facilities designed for sports events. Data on the available heating systems of temporarily used tent facilities are presented. It is shown that climatic conditions for athletes and the audience in these facilities do not meet the existing standards in the vast majority of cases. The combination of two factors affecting the microclimate parameters, i.e., the usage frequency and the low thermal resistance coefficient of the enclosing structures, requires the application of new practices not only in the form of climate control equipment operation mode, but also in the form of new monitoring techniques. The paper presents the results of a study of microclimate parameters in a frame and tent facility when using new techniques and approaches to climate control systems and to the process of forming climatic conditions depending on the clothing and the type of work performed. The results show that the introduction of new control algorithms and the implementation of new ways of monitoring microclimate parameters can save up to 30% of thermal energy while providing favorable microclimate parameters throughout the entire room, with the room reaching steady-state heating mode more than twice as fast. For the development of physical education and sports, it is necessary to use structures that can be quickly assembled and put into operation. For these purposes, frame and tent facilities are the best option.

The energy efficiency of a solar greenhouse for biomass drying

Solar energy is a renewable, inexhaustible and clean source, it is becoming the main target of several applications, both domestic or industrial, cutting costs on electrical and thermal demands when compared with conventional sources. In the case of solar chamber, which makes use of incident solar radiation, it creates a favorable microclimate for drying inputs for reducing humidity to prevent the spread of biodegradable agents, on agricultural, forestry, and other products. With the objective to verify the energy efficiency of a prototype of the Greenhouse model, a solar chamber was built, where energy data and environmental variables were daily monitored in the drying process. For the determination of energy efficiency the ratio between converted energy into heat by the received energy was used. It was found that the chamber presented a daily energy gain of 220141,7 kJ, a daily thermal efficiency of 13,96% and up to 3 pm in 24,19%. The percentage difference in this efficiency is attributed to the chamber structure, which transmits and absorbs a higher percentage of solar energy during the day, but at night due to its transmissibility, emissivity properties, in addition to small structural failures that favor greater energy losses.

Comparison of organic eggplant yields under open-field and high tunnel production systems in Texas

High tunnel (HT) vegetable cultivation stands out as a superior choice when compared to open field (OF) production due to its numerous production benefits. However, intensive cultivation practices involving excessive use of inorganic fertilizer (IF) in HT production systems may lead to degradation of soil health, and ultimately poor crop yields. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and IF on growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars in HT and OF production systems. Two experiments were conducted in a split-split plot design with production systems (HT and OF) as main plot, fertilizers (LOF and IF) as sub-plot, and cultivars (‘Angela’ and ‘Jaylo’) as sub-sub plot factors. Throughout the growing season, daily average temperature and relative humidity were greater by 2 to 4 ​°C and 2 to 4%, respectively, under HT compared to OF conditions. In contrast, average daily light integral of HT decreased 18 to 24% compared to OF. Results from pooled growth and yield data of both experiments indicate HT produced 61% taller plants with 62% thicker stem diameter compared to OF. However, eggplant height and stem diameter did not differ significantly between fertilizer treatments or between cultivars. Due to a greater fruit count for each plant (63%) and average fruit weight (9%), total yield was 84% greater in HT compared to OF. Eggplant cultivar ‘Jaylo’ yielded 33% greater fruit count for each plant and 38% greater fruit yield compared to ‘Angela’ cultivar. However, no differences in fruit count, fruit weight, and the total yield were observed between LOF and IF. Results indicate that HT production offered a favorable microclimate which encouraged plant growth and greater fruit yield of eggplant compared to OF conditions. LOF and ‘Jaylo’ could be successfully used in organic eggplant production in HT and OF systems.

К ВОПРОСУ РЕШЕНИЯ ПРОБЛЕМ ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ ПАНЕЛЬНЫХ ЗДАНИЙ

This article discusses issues related to the overhaul of large-panel residential buildings. The authors pay attention to a key aspect of this process, namely the repair of the joints of wall panels, as well as methods to identify places where the tightness of the seams in panel houses is broken. One of the important stages of the study is thermal imaging scanning, which allows you to accurately determine areas with the greatest heat loss and identify problem areas that require immediate intervention. The article also provides a brief description of the different types of sealants and their applications in the context of wall joint repairs. This is significant because choosing the right sealants and applying them correctly can greatly improve the effectiveness and longevity of a repair. The authors of the study emphasize not only the importance of proper repair of wall panel joints, but also the need to comply with building maintenance requirements and timely major repairs using high-quality materials. This is key to ensuring the durability of wall panel joints. Effective major renovations help create a favorable indoor microclimate and reduce energy costs, which is important not only from the point of view of improving living conditions, but also from an economic point of view in the modern construction industry.

Holopelagic Sargassum aggregations provide warmer microhabitats for associated fauna

Drifting aggregations of Sargassum algae provide critical habitat for endemic, endangered, and commercially important species. They may also provide favorable microclimates for associated fauna. To quantify thermal characteristics of holopelagic Sargassum aggregations, we evaluated thermal profiles of 50 aggregations in situ in the Sargasso Sea. Sea surface temperature (SST) in the center of aggregations was significantly higher than in nearby open water, and SST differential was independent of aggregation volume, area, and thickness. SST differential between aggregation edge and open water was smaller than those between aggregation center and aggregation edge and between aggregation center and open water. Water temperature was significantly higher inside and below aggregations compared to open water but did not vary inside aggregations with depth. Holopelagic Sargassum aggregations provide warmer microhabitats for associated fauna, which may benefit marine ectotherms, though temperature differentials were narrow (up to 0.7 °C) over the range of aggregation sizes we encountered (area 0.01–15 m2). We propose a hypothetical curve describing variation in SST differential with Sargassum aggregation size as a prediction for future studies to evaluate across temporal and geographic ranges. Our study provides a foundation for investigating the importance of thermal microhabitats in holopelagic Sargassum ecosystems.

Assessing the influence of sowing dates and crop geometry on Fall Armyworm infestation in maize (Zea mays L.)

The present investigation to determine the effect of date of sowing and crop geometry against fall armyworm (FAW) damage in maize was conducted in TNAU, Coimbatore during the Summer and Rainy seasons using three different crop geometries as precision farming (75 × 25 cm), TNAU recommended spacing (60 × 25 cm) and farmer's practice (45 × 25 cm) in three sowing windows. Among sowing windows, the crop grown in 12th standard meteorological week (SMW) was associated with the highest levels of leaf damage of 11.16 , 71.0 , and 50.71 per cent recorded at 16, 30, and 60 days after sowing (DAS), whereas the crop sown in 7th SMW experienced the least damage (8.32% at 16 DAS, 23.01% at 30 DAS, 31.71% at 45 DAS, and 22.96% at 60 DAS) and the intermediate damage occurred in 9th SMW in the summer season. Contrarily, during the rainy season, the highest leaf damage occurred in crop sown at 34th SMW (26.20 , 46.87 and 30.0 per cent at 30, 45, and 60 DAS, respectively) and the lowest leaf damage of 3.50, 13.01, 27.34 and 17.83 per cent recorded at 16, 30, 45 and 60 DAS, respectively for 39th SMW sown crop. The 37th SMW sown crop exhibited intermediary damage. Among the altered cropping geometries wider spacing (75 × 25 cm) between rows has lesser leaf damage in contrast, dense arrangement (45 × 25 cm) created a favourable microclimate for fall armyworm infestation and 60 × 25 cm has an intermediary infestation with the highest grain yield among the cropping geometries. So, the planting geometry 60×25 cm may be adopted as one of the cultural practices in the integrated pest management of maize considering both yields as well as FAW damage.

Assessment of PAR Interception and Radiation Use Efficiency on Tomato Growth and Yield in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam, India

A field experiment was conducted in Jorhat, Assam during the rabi season of 2019-20 to examine the effects of PAR interception, radiation use efficiency, and modified microclimates on tomato growth and yield. The variety Arka Rakshak was grown in split plot design with 4 dates of planting (P1: 25th October, P2: 14th November, P3: 3rd December, and P4: 8th January) in main plots and three types of mulching (M0: no mulch, M1: rice straw mulch, and M2: black polythene mulch) in sub-plots. Measurements of incident PAR (IPAR), reflected PAR (RPAR), transmitted PAR (TPAR) were taken at 10 days regular intervals. The results showed that IPAR ranged from 531 to 1431 μ mol s-1 m-2, with an average of 1140.4 μ mol s-1 m-2. RPAR varied between 41 and 285 μ mol m-2 s-1 under different microclimates. The tomato yield ranged from 76.6 to 392.6 q ha-1, with an average of 234.9 q ha-1. Planting on November 14th (P2) provided the most favorable microclimate conditions, while black polythene mulch (M2) was found to be the most suitable for crop growth, yield, and radiation use efficiency due to increased soil temperature. The study indicated that selecting the right planting date and implementing black polythene mulch can enhance tomato growth, yield, and radiation use efficiency in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam (Jorhat) agro-climatic condition.

Деятельность социального педагога в условиях центра помощи детям, оставшимся без попечения родителей

This article discusses a socio-pedagogical program for the formation of a favorable microclimate in the group of pupils of the center for helping children left without parental care in the Altai Territory. The socio-pedagogical program “Inspiration” is the main approach to group work with adolescents on the formation of a psychological climate in the group and allows you to form high-quality relationships with the pupils of the center for helping children left without parental care, which they often lack. The developed program is well integrated into the system of raising children, where the need for a favorable psychological climate is most often replaced by the provision of basic needs of the child and health care. The purpose of the socio-pedagogical program is the formation of a favorable microclimate in the team, as well as the disclosure and development of the positive personal potential of the pupil. The structure of the socio-pedagogical program “Inspiration” includes four content blocks: personal, emotional, social activity block, communicative block. Each of the blocks is represented by a set of classes and exercises aimed at creating a favorable microclimate in the team of pupils of the center for helping children left without parental care.

Факторы риска и качество жизни женщин в периодах пери- и постменопаузы в городе Ереван, Армения

INTRODUCTION: Menopause is associated with various somatic, vasomotor, sexual and psychological symptoms that adversely affect the quality of life of women in peri- and postmenopausal periods. AIM: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of women in peri- and postmenopausal periods, to identify factors producing a negative effect on him during these periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: А cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey of 353 women above 40. To assess QoL, the SF 36 questionnaire was used. Sociodemographic factors and peculiarities of health status of the participants were considered risk factors. The data were introduced and analyzed using SPSS 23 statistical package. Statistical significance of the results was evaluated by Kruskal–Wallis test with the subsequent a posteriori analysis, and Mann–Whitney test. RESULTS: Peri- and post menopause had negative impact on the parameters of physical component of QoL and all its domains. Participants with regular menstruation had a reliably higher score of physical component of QoL compared to peri- and postmenopausal women (p < 0.001). The scores of physical component of QoL were higher in women at the age under 50 compared to women of older age groups. The scores were higher in women with higher and secondary special education compared to participants with general secondary education (p < 0.05). Higher scores of physical and psychological components of QoL were recorded in working women compared to the retired group (p < 0.05). The parameters of psychological component of QoL were the highest among married and single women. Parameters of physical and mental components of QoL were higher in groups with the income above and at the level of the living minimum compared to those who reported the income below the minimum wage (p < 0.001). A reliably higher scores of physical and mental components of QoL were recorded in participants with favorable microclimate in families compared to the group with an unfavorable one (p < 0.01). A reliable relationship was found between the evaluation of the health and parameters of both components of QoL by the participants. Higher scores were recorded in women who evaluated their health as excellent and above average compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). The presence of chronic diseases had a negative impact on both components of QoL. CONCLUSION: The factors producing negative effects on QoL of women in peri- and postmenopausal periods were the older age, general health status, low educational level, retirement, unfavorable family status and family microclimate, low family income.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING

Problem statement. The current direction of the development of the energy policy of Ukraine is the transformation of the residential communal complex into a system that makes it possible to implement organizational and technical methods for creating energy-efficient multi-apartment residential buildings. The advantage of designing energy-efficient buildings is a high level of comfort, creating a favorable microclimate in a residential building, reducing the negative impact on the environment, reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere, and saving energy resources. One of the main characteristics of the energy efficiency of buildings is the specific energy consumption for heating and cooling the premises per year. In order to achieve a reduction in the specific rate of thermal energy consumption for heating and ventilation of the building, it is necessary to responsibly approach the issues of the efficiency of energy-saving systems. It is possible to achieve an increase in energy efficiency with the help of a combination of various constructive, engineering and architectural planning measures, as well as the simultaneous use of modern engineering energy-saving methods and technologies in combination with a compact form and layout of the building. The purpose of the article. Analyze the calculation of the cost of energy resources of an apartment building, taking into acount energy-efficient solutions. Conclusions. An analysis of the dependence of energy costs of a multi-apartment residential building on the level of implementation of energy-efficient systems was carried out. During the construction of residential complexes in Odesa, the use of the system of energy-efficient solutions and the “Smart House” control system allows you to significantly reduce energy costs. Due to the use of an automated control system for technical devices in the building, a reduction in transmission costs and costs for the functioning of the ventilation system is achieved.

ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES (on the example of the city of Pavlodar)

The purpose of this work is to determine the directions of formation of a favorable socio-ecological microclimate, architectural environment and residential complexes on the example of the city of Pavlodar. In the course of the study, field studies were conducted; regional features and factors influencing the formation of a favorable socio-ecological microclimate of the architectural environment were determined.

Drought‐induced relocation of ant colonies and its consequences for the long‐term spatial ecology of a population under stress

Abstract Maintaining a central refuge such as a nest or burrow can offer protection against environmental stressors but comes at the expense of the capacity to disperse to new locations. This trade‐off with mobility can be detrimental when environmental conditions become adverse for extended periods, necessitating animals to relocate in order to track shifting niche envelopes. Long‐lived ant colonies that invest in the construction of large nests are especially susceptible to changing environmental conditions. The Australian meat ant, Iridomyrmex purpureus, build large terrestrial nests at sites that balance shade and solar exposure. Long‐term study of a population of meat ants showed low nest turnover and a stable spatial distribution of nests across typical rainfall years. With the onset of drought, a dramatic surge in the production of new nests occurred through a process of budding that far exceeded historic trends. This appears to have allowed colonies to relocate nests into areas with more favourable microclimate conditions in a strategy reminiscent of the production of runners in stressed plants. The consequence has also been the packing of nests into a narrow habitable zone that has resulted in an apparent increase in competition among large rival colonies. Following the break in drought and the thinning of some nests through abandonment, competition has progressively eased in later years. The surge in nest budding triggered by acute environmental stress in this population offers a possible strategy for long‐lived colonies to effectively migrate across the landscape. With changes in environmental conditions becoming more frequent and severe with the climate crisis, any strategy available to central place foragers to track windows of preferred conditions is likely to become increasingly important. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Mismatches between phenotype and environment shape fitness at hyperlocal scales.

In the era of human-driven climate change, understanding whether behavioural buffering of temperature change is linked with organismal fitness is essential. According to the 'cost-benefit' model of thermoregulation, animals that live in environments with high frequencies of favourable thermal microclimates should incur lower thermoregulatory costs, thermoregulate more efficiently and shunt the associated savings in time and energy towards other vital tasks such as feeding, territory defence and mate acquisition, increasing fitness. Here, we explore how thermal landscapes at the scale of individual territories, physiological performance and behaviour interact and shape fitness in the southern rock agama lizard (Agama atra). We integrated laboratory assays of whole organism performance with behavioural observations in the field, fine-scale estimates of environmental temperature, and paternity assignment of offspring to test whether fitness is predicted by territory thermal quality (i.e. the number of hours that operative temperatures in a territory fall within an individual's performance breadth). Male lizards that occupied territories of low thermal quality spent more time behaviourally compensating for sub-optimal temperatures and displayed less. Further, display rate was positively associated with lizard fitness, suggesting that there is an opportunity cost to engaging in thermoregulatory behaviour that will change as climate change progresses.

Problems of interpersonal interaction in a students’ group

The article explores the concept of interpersonal interaction as a necessary condition for the development of human life activity. The key problems of interaction of student groups in collaborative work are considered. The study suggests that in collaborative work on a project, each learner gains experience, learns and creates new things, and establishes contacts within the group. The conducted diagnostics indicate a high level of communicative ability of the students, and a high degree of favorable microclimate within a small group. On the basis of the studied material, the authors come to the conclusion that the students will be the most productive in working on a project in collaboration in small groups due to harmonious relations and mutual solidarity.

Valleys are a potential refuge for the Amazon lowland forest in the face of increased risk of drought

The Amazon rainforest is home to an incredible variety of plant and animal species and plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Climate change and human activities are putting this important ecosystem at risk. In particular, increasing droughts are making it harder for certain organisms to survive. Here we analyse a satellite-based data set of fog/low-stratus (FLS) frequency and a spatio-temporal drought index. We show that vulnerable organisms may find refuge in river valleys where FLS provides a source of moisture. We find that these favourable microclimates exist throughout the Amazon basin, with the highest occurrence and stability in steep river valleys. We suggest that protecting these hygric climate change refugia could help preserve the biodiversity and functioning of the Amazon ecosystem in the face of future droughts. This would also help stabilise atmospheric moisture recycling, making the region more resilient to climate change.

A MODEL OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ON THE EXAMPLE OF UNIVERSITIES OF THE SZECHUAN PROVINCE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

In the article, the author described the model of organizational culture development. Using the example of the Southwest University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, the author identified the elements of the organizational culture model. The basis for the development of organizational culture is the interdependence of factors, principles, and trends in the work of a higher education institution. The first level involves the development of a system of organizational culture management goals at the university in a real cultural space. Based on these goals, a unique strategy is formed. The second level of organizational culture development involves the integration of the content and technologies of its implementation at the internal university level, as well as at the level of inter-university interaction. The third level involves the structuring of managerial aspects of organizational culture, various methods of monitoring and current evaluation of organizational culture of the university. The article emphasizes that universities in Sichuan province are open to innovation and international cooperation. But the universities of this province have strong traditions and a classical hierarchy in management. For the organic combination of traditions and innovations in the management of organizational culture, the goals are to improve the quality of management subjects and obtain economic, social, scientific and technical, ecological and other effects. The combination of traditions and innovations in the development of the organizational culture of universities in Sichuan province involves successive elements of the content of management: initiation, marketing, release, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of effectiveness, diffusion of an integrated idea. The success of the organizational culture model of universities depends on the coordination and coordinated productive cooperation of all participants in the educational process, structures that are interested in the quality of education. Therefore, the author emphasized: the board should combine traditions and innovations; the university functions as self-sufficient, provides appropriate training of managers, coordinators and teachers; creation of conditions for self-realization of the individual, socially significant productive creative activity; favorable microclimate and support for young scientists.

Assessment of the Bioclimatic Index for resilient urban spaces in Mediterranean cities

To achieve urban resilience, assessment of the bioclimatic impact of various planning solutions should be given high priority in the decision-making process for the implementation of urban planning interventions. To aid in this process and improve the creation of resilient open spaces, the Bioclimatic Index has been developed as an evaluation tool and simple guide for local stakeholders. The assessment of the indicator is essential to determine the likelihood of its use in other Mediterranean cities as the methodological framework was based on the microclimate simulation results of the case study area of Patras Old Port, which is a seaside open space with a Mediterranean climate. In this framework, the Bioclimatic Index is used to rate the regenerated open spaces in Thessaloniki, Malaga, and Genoa, three Mediterranean seaside areas. The indicator values are compared to the microclimate simulation results created based on their planning solutions, aiming to test the accuracy, transferability and scalability of the indicator. The research result showed that the seaside space of Malaga, which has been evaluated as the optimal regeneration plan based on the Bioclimatic Index, creates the most favorable microclimate conditions through seasons, supporting the use of the indicator for evaluating the bioclimatic impact of regeneration plans in Mediterranean cities.

Factors determining the distribution of Erica patches on the Sanetti Plateau, Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

In the Bale Mountains, the ericaceous belt ranges between 3200 and 3800 m asl. Studies indicate an expansion on the Sanetti Plateau at the end of the Late Glacial and during the early Holocene. Currently, only patches of Erica growing between boulders are found on the Plateau, while most of the landscape above 3800 m asl is covered by afro-alpine plants. Driving factors for Erica patches above the upper ericaceous ecotone is a matter of debate. This study evaluates site variables and biogeochemical properties of soils under Erica patches and nearby Erica-free control to understand the environmental conditions responsible for the patchy occurrence of Erica on the Sanetti Plateau. Except for the boulder richness, Erica and control plots have comparable topography, soil texture, and electrical conductivity. However, soils below Erica patches have higher total organic carbon, nitrogen, carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, and black carbon contents than the control plots indicating fresh organic matter input and availability of combustible fuel. This implies that Erica did not fully cover the control plots in former times. Carbon and nitrogen stocks were slightly higher in control plots due to the lower stone contents of the profiles. In addition, soils of the Erica plots showed more positive δ13C values than the control soils, possibly attributed to water stress. In general, the relief and soil conditions of control plots may support the growth of Erica. However, Erica growing between boulders seems to benefit from the favorable microclimate and physical protection against grazing and fire.