April 1, 1993Ecology
A Physiology‐Based Gap Model of Forest Dynamics
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Implication
Simulation study reveals accurate predictions of tree growth and carbon fluxes in temperate forests, highlighting the utility of integrating physiological mechanisms into gap models.
Key Points
- Develop and evaluate HYBRID, a computer model that integrates physiological mechanisms and individual-based gap dynamics to simulate forest growth and ecosystem processes.
- Coupled an individual-based forest gap model with an ecosystem process model and a daily photosynthesis model, simulating daily carbon fixation, respiration, and water loss alongside annual carbon partitioning.
- Simulated forest dynamics and ecosystem processes between 1910 and 1986 in Tennessee oak forests and Montana pine forests, followed by a model sensitivity analysis.
- Simulated individual tree growth and ecosystem-level processes closely matched historical observations across both oak and pine forest ecosystems.
- Sensitivity analysis revealed that net primary productivity predictions were most sensitive to internal-to-ambient leaf CO2 ratios, atmospheric CO2, relative humidity, air temperature, precipitation, soil water capacity, allometry, respiration, and carbon storage parameters.
Cite This Study
Friend et al. (1993) studied this question.