Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-243
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2022-243
Submitted as: model description paper
 | 
04 Nov 2022
Submitted as: model description paper |  | 04 Nov 2022
Status: a revised version of this preprint is currently under review for the journal GMD.

MEDFATE 2.8.1: A trait-enabled model to simulate Mediterranean forest function and dynamics at regional scales

Miquel De Cáceres, Roberto Molowny-Horas, Antoine Cabon, Jordi Martínez-Vilalta, Maurizio Mencuccini, Raúl García-Valdés, Daniel Nadal-Sala, Santiago Sabaté, Nicolas Martin-StPaul, Xavier Morin, Enric Batllori, and Aitor Améztegui

Abstract. Regional-level applications of dynamic vegetation models are challenging because they need to accommodate the variation in plant functional diversity, which requires moving away from broadly-defined functional types. Different approaches have been adopted in the last years to incorporate a trait-based perspective into modeling exercises. A common parametrization strategy involves using trait data to represent functional variation between individuals while discard taxonomic identity, but this strategy ignores the phylogenetic signal of trait variation and cannot be employed when predictions for specific taxa are needed, as in applications to inform forest management planning. An alternative strategy involves adapting the taxonomic resolution of model entities to that of the data source employed for large-scale initialization and estimating functional parameters from available plant trait databases while adopting alternative solutions for missing data and non-observable parameters. Here we report the advantages and limitations of this second strategy according to our experience in the development of MEDFATE (v. 2.8.1), a novel cohort-based and trait-enabled model of forest dynamics, for its application over a region in the Western Mediterranean Basin. First, 217 taxonomic entities were defined according to woody species codes of the Spanish National Forest Inventory. While forest inventory data were used to obtain some empirical parameter estimates, a large proportion of physiological, morphological, and anatomical parameters were mapped to measured plant traits, with estimates extracted from multiple databases and averaged at the required taxonomic level. Estimates for non-observable key parameters were obtained using meta-modeling and calibration exercises. Missing values were filled using imputation procedures based on trait coordination, taxonomic averages or both. The model properly simulated observed historical basal area changes, with a performance similar to an empirical model trained for the same region. While strong efforts are still required to parameterize trait-enabled models for multiple taxa, estimation procedures can be progressively refined, transferred to other regions or models and iterated following data source changes by employing automated workflows. We advocate for the adoption of trait-enabled population-structured models for regional-level projections of forest function and dynamics.

Miquel De Cáceres et al.

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Review of gmd-2022-243', Harald Bugmann, 17 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on gmd-2022-243', Nikolaos Fyllas, 13 Jan 2023
  • AC1: 'Comment on gmd-2022-243', Miquel de Cáceres, 14 Mar 2023

Miquel De Cáceres et al.

Miquel De Cáceres et al.

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Short summary
Regional-level applications of dynamic vegetation models are challenging because they need to accommodate the variation in plant functional diversity. This can be done by estimating parameters from available plant trait databases while adopting alternative solutions for missing data. Here we present the design, parameterization and evaluation of MEDFATE, a novel model of forest dynamics for its application over a region in the Western Mediterranean Basin.