Abstract: Gap, caused by natural disturbance, can cause the change of light and temperature in the forest patch obviously. Based on an investigation in a sample of a Pinus dabeshanensis forest in Dabieshan Mountains, we recognized three patch types including gap, gap adjacent and closed canopy and analyzed their microclimate characteristics. The daily change patterns of microclimate characteristics in three patch types were different. The light intensity and air temperature were much greater in gap than in the gap adjacent and closed canopy. The light intensity, air temperature and soil surface temperature had significant difference under different patch types.

Key words: light, temperature, heterogeneity, patch type