Modelling approaches for mixed forests dynamics prognosis. Research gaps and opportunities

Abstract

Aim of study: Modelling of forest growth and dynamics has focused mainly on pure stands. Mixed-forest management lacks systematic procedures to forecast the impact of silvicultural actions. The main objective of the present work is to review current knowledge and forest model developments that can be applied to mixed forests.Material and methods: Primary research literature was reviewed to determine the state of the art for modelling tree species mixtures, focusing mainly on temperate forests.Main results: The essential principles for predicting stand growth in mixed forests were identified. Forest model applicability in mixtures was analysed. Input data, main model components, output and viewers were presented. Finally, model evaluation procedures and some of the main model platforms were described.Research highlights: Responses to environmental changes and management activities in mixed forests can differ from pure stands. For greater insight into mixed-forest dynamics and ecology, forest scientists and practitioners need new theoretical frameworks, different approaches and innovative solutions for sustainable forest management in the context of environmental and social changes.Keywords: dynamics, ecology, growth, yield, empirical, classification.

HETEROFOR 1.0: a spatially explicit model for exploring the response of structurally complex forests to uncertain future conditions – Part 2: Phenology and water cycle

“…Data from the same site were averaged so that long monitoring studies do not influence the average value too much. 13Papers included in the literature review: Cepel (1967), Aussenac (1968Aussenac ( , 1970, Lemée (1974); Nagy (1974); Szabo (1975); Aussenac and Boulangeat (1980); Matzner and Ulrich (1981); Rowe (1983); Bücking and Krebs (1986); Gerke (1987); Giacomin and Trucchin (1992); Neal et al (1993); Leuschner (1994); Ulrich et al (1995); Heil (1996); Tarazona et al (1996); Bellot and Escarre (1998); Didon-Lescot (1998); Herbst et al (1998);Nizinski and Saugier (1998); Forgeard et al (1980);Granier et al (2000); Bent (2001); Michopoulos et al (2001); Knoche et al (2002); Mosello et al (2002); Dripps (2003); Bastrup-Birk and Gundersen 2004; Hanson et al (2004); Ladekarl et al (2005); Schipka et al (2005); Vincke et al (2005); Carlyle-Moses and Price 2006; Christiansen et al (2006); Roberts and Rosier (2006); Schmidt (2007); Herbst et al (2008); Staelens et al (2008); Ahmadi et al (2009); Müller and Bolte ...…”

“…To account for the spatial heterogeneity, some process-based models were designed or adapted to simulate various tree cohorts (Collalti et al, 2016). However, this approach only considers the vertical dimension of spatial heterogeneity while implementing innovative forestry practices in structurally complex stands requires the horizontal dimension to be accounted for through a spatially explicit approach at tree level (Pacala and Deutschman, 1995;Pretzsch et al, 2007;Berger et al, 2008;Bravo et al, 2019).…”

“…A more detailed representation of tree interactions comes at the price of a higher complexity, eventually lower robustness and longer computing times. One needs however spatially explicit individual-based models for gaining a mechanistic and comprehensive understanding of tree interactions and for comparing various spatial representations of stand structure in order to select the best one for the considered function (Berger et al, 2008;Bravo et al, 2019). Among other things, such models allow tree spatial configuration to be taken into account and stands composed of the same trees but with a contrasted spatial aggregation to be distinguished between (e.g.…”

The Effect of Tree Crown Allometry on Community Dynamics in Mixed-Species Stands versus Monocultures. A Review and Perspectives for Modeling and Silvicultural Regulation

“…Tree level-based models have the advantage that they can deduce the reaction patterns for the whole continuum of mono-and mixed-species stands mechanistically from the tree-tree interactions [102][103][104], and especially from the crown-crown interactions [105,106]. Another advantage is the suitability of individual tree models for modelling the silvicultural interventions in mixed stands.…”

HETEROFOR 1.0: a spatially explicit model for exploring the response of structurally complex forests to uncertain future conditions – Part 1: Carbon fluxes and tree dimensional growth

“…Scenario analyses based on model simulations are therefore useful for selecting the most promising management strategies and evaluating their long-term sustainability. To explore the forest response to new silvicultural practices and yet unexperienced climate conditions in a realistic way, one needs new process-based models that are able to deal with mixed and structurally complex stands and to incorporate uncertainties in future conditions (Berger et al, 2008;Bravo et al, 2019).…”