The use of a European forest model in North America: a study of ecosystem response to climate gradients

The forest gap model FORCLIM that originally was developed for central European conditions is applied to simu­ late the species composition of near-natural forests in eastern North America along a latitudinal transect from 60 to 30 0 N, covering the transition from the tundra to the boreal and deciduous forests. The results show that FORCLIM provides plausible species compositions along this gradient; most of the divergences concern species that are of minor abundance. In the central part of the gradient, the simulated species composition is considerably more realistic than the one obtained in an earlier study with a model developed for these conditions. However, in the boreal forest the behaviour of some light-demanding species is anomalous. Along drought gradients in the south western part of the gradient, FORCLIM misrepresents the influence of increased drought on forest structure, thus point­ ing to further research needs. The results are discussed within the context of model verification, the applicability of FORCLIM to study climatic change issues and the evolution of different tree species on the two continents. Prospects are outlined for developing a forest gap model that is applicable over a wide range of environmental conditions across several continents, thus contributing to the development of dynamic global vegetation models.

[1]  M. C. Axelrod,et al.  Analysis of silva: A model for forecasting the effects of SO2 pollution and fire on western coniferous forests , 1984 .

[2]  A. Watt,et al.  Pattern and process in the plant community , 1947 .

[3]  A. Fischlin,et al.  Ecological Processes in Forest Gap Models — Analysis and Improvement , 1992 .

[4]  C. W. Thornthwaite,et al.  Instructions and tables for computing potential evapotranspiration and the water balance , 1955 .

[5]  D Gyalistras,et al.  Sensitivity of a forest ecosystem model to climate parametrization schemes. , 1995, Environmental pollution.

[6]  I. Colin Prentice,et al.  Silvics of north European trees: compilation, comparisons and implications for forest succession modelling. , 1991 .

[7]  W. Post,et al.  Development of a linked forest productivity-soil process model , 1985 .

[8]  Will Steffen,et al.  Global change and terrestrial ecosystems. The operational plan. , 1992 .

[9]  J. M. Hett,et al.  Forest Succession Models: A Rationale and Methodology for Modeling Forest Succession over Large Regions , 1973 .

[10]  I. Prentice.  Developing a Global Vegetation Dynamics Model: Results of an IIASA Summer Workshop , 1989 .

[11]  Craig G. Lorimer,et al.  Natural Disturbance Regimes in Hemlock-Hardwood Forests of the Upper Great Lakes Region , 1991 .

[12]  J. R. Wallis,et al.  Some ecological consequences of a computer model of forest growth , 1972 .

[13]  A. Solomon,et al.  Past and future climate change: response by mixed deciduous–coniferous forest ecosystems in northern Michigan , 1992 .

[14]  Heikki Hänninen,et al.  Sima: a model for forest succession based on the carbon and nitrogen cycles with application to silvicultural management of the forest ecosystem , 1992 .

[15]  Brian Huntley,et al.  Climatic control of the distribution and abundance of beech (Fagus L.) in Europe and North America. , 1989 .

[16]  Wolfgang Cramer,et al.  A simulation model for the transient effects of climate change on forest landscapes , 1993 .

[17]  J. Rowe,et al.  Forest regions of Canada. , 1972 .

[18]  W. Cramer,et al.  A global biome model based on plant physiology and dominance, soil properties and climate , 1992 .

[19]  John Pastor,et al.  Response of northern forests to CO2-induced climate change , 1988, Nature.

[20]  Harald Bugmann,et al.  On the ecology of mountainous forests in a changing climate , 1994 .