RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The effect of selective logging on microclimates, arthropod abundance and the foraging behaviour of Eastern Himalayan birds JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2022.08.24.504948 DO 10.1101/2022.08.24.504948 A1 Aggarwal, Kanika A1 Chanda, Ritobroto A1 Rai, Shambu A1 Rai, Mangal A1 Pradhan, D.K. A1 Munda, Binod A1 Tamang, Bharat A1 Biswakarma, Aman A1 Srinivasan, Umesh YR 2022 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/08/25/2022.08.24.504948.abstract AB 1. Selective logging—the practice of removing a subset of commercially important trees from a forest—is a globally pervasive form of forest degradation. Selective logging alters both the structure and function of forests and the composition of ecological communities.2. Tropical insectivorous birds are highly vulnerable to microhabitat alterations in logged forest. Such altered microhabitats might affect the foraging of forest birds by altering (a) resource availability, and (b) foraging behaviour.3. We investigated the effect of selective logging on microclimates, prey availability, foraging behaviour and the foraging success of eastern Himalayan birds in the breeding season.4. Selective logging alters temperature-humidity microclimates and the composition of arthropod communities, both of which are likely to then collectively alter foraging behaviour by birds. We show that birds spent a lower proportion of their time foraging in primary compared with logged forest. Further, selective logging interacts with species traits such as body mass, preferred foraging stratum (understorey, midstorey or canopy) and foraging manoeuvre to influence foraging success. Gleaners generally foraged more successfully in primary forest and salliers in logged forest, although these patterns were modified by body mass and foraging stratum.5. Synthesis and applications: Our study shows how altered microclimates in anthropogenically modified habitats can influence resource availability and have downstream impacts on the behaviour of species at higher trophic levels.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.