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The complex interactions between stand characteristics and forest site variables result in specific understory microclimate conditions, which are essential for many forest-dwelling organism groups.

The main aim of our study was to evaluate the relative importance of stand structure variables and landscape elements that account for the microclimate in closed, managed, mature forest stands. The relationships between different microclimatic variables were also analyzed. 35, 70–100 year-old deciduous-coniferous mixed forest stands were selected in Western Hungary. Air temperature, relative humidity, and relative diffuse light were measured at eight sampling periods between 2009 and 2011.

Below-canopy air temperature and humidity showed a strong negative correlation, but diffuse light was independent. The mean values of air temperature and humidity depended on stand structure elements, chiefly on the …