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Modeling Tree Growth Taking into Account Carbon Source and Sink Limitations
Amaury Hayat1, Andrew J Hacket-Pain2, Hans Pretzsch3
1Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|April 6, 2017
Summary
Forests are key to regulating atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). This study introduces a new tree growth model accounting for intrinsic biological limits, improving predictions of the terrestrial carbon sink.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Forestry
- Climate Science
Background:
- Established forests are significant sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
- Existing forest models primarily focus on carbon sources (photosynthesis) and overlook intrinsic growth limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel tree growth model incorporating intrinsic biological limits.
- To provide a replacement framework for current Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) to better represent the terrestrial carbon sink.
Main Methods:
- Developed a process-based model for individual tree growth, integrating meristem and cellular growth rate limits.
- Utilized differential equations solved via numerical methods.
- Validated the model using data from beech tree stands in German forest experiments.
Main Results:
- The model successfully simulates tree growth, considering internal biological constraints.
- It offers new insights into the factors limiting tree height.
- The framework addresses limitations in previous models concerning sink-limited growth.
Conclusions:
- The new model provides a more realistic representation of tree growth dynamics.
- It enhances our understanding of the terrestrial carbon sink's capacity.
- This approach can improve the accuracy of climate change impact predictions on forests.