Article:
Bugmann, H., Fischlin, A. & Kienast, F., 1996. Model convergence and state
variable update in forest gap models. Ecological Modelling, 89: 197-208.
doi: 10.1016/0304-3800(95)00135-2
Abstract:
During the last 25 yr, models of the JABOWA/FORET type ('gap models') were increasingly applied to study forest succession. Little is known about the importance of the numerous ecological processes included in the models and about their exact mathematical properties. Based on the stochastic gap model FORECE developed for European forests the authors analysed two aspects of gap models: the sample size needed to reliably compute the statistical properties of the model behaviour; and inconsistencies in the mechanism used to update the state variables. It is concluded that rigorous systems theoretical and statistical investigations of the properties of forest gap models are required to render the application of those models more robust. It is proposed to revise the update mechanism for the state variables in the existing forest gap models as outlined in the present study.