Response to Comment on "Forest microclimate dynamics drive plant responses to warming"

Zellweger F; De Frenne P; Lenoir J; Vangansbeke P; Verheyen K; Bernhardt-Roemermann M; Baeten L; Hedl R; Berki I; Brunet J; Van Calster H; Chudomelova M; Decocq G; Dirnbock T; Durak T; Heinken T; Jaroszewicz B; Kopecky M; Malis F; Macek M; Malicki M; Naaf T; Nagel TA; Ortmann-Ajkai A; Petrik P; Pielech R; Reczynska K; Schmidt W; Standovar T; Swierkosz K; Teleki B; Vild O; Wulf M; Coomes D

Science, Vol.370, No.6520, 2020

Zellweger F, De Frenne P, Lenoir J, Vangansbeke P, Verheyen K, Bernhardt-Roemermann M, Baeten L, Hedl R, Berki I, Brunet J, Van Calster H, Chudomelova M, Decocq G, Dirnbock T, Durak T, Heinken T, Jaroszewicz B, Kopecky M, Malis F, Macek M, Malicki M, Naaf T, Nagel TA, Ortmann-Ajkai A, Petrik P, Pielech R, Reczynska K, Schmidt W, Standovar T, Swierkosz K, Teleki B, Vild O, Wulf M, Coomes D

Bertrand et al. question our interpretation about warming effects on the thermophilization in forest plant communities and propose an alternative way to analyze climatic debt. We show that microclimate warming is a better predictor than macroclimate warming for studying forest plant community responses to warming. Their additional analyses do not affect or change our interpretations and conclusions.