Modelling the stand dynamics after a thinning induced partial mortality: A compensatory growth perspective

Area of Science:

• Forestry Science
• Ecology
• Computational Modeling

Background:

• Managed forest stands are increasingly common, necessitating better prediction of their dynamics under disturbances.
• Understanding tree and stand responses to partial mortality is crucial for effective forest management.
• Partial mortality is a common event in stand development, influencing overall dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a model simulating compensatory growth in trees following partial mortality.
• To investigate tree and stand response patterns to resource redistribution after tree death.
• To provide a tool for predicting managed stand dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Developed the TreeCG (Tree's Compensatory Growth) model, an individual tree-based forest growth simulator.
• Modeled compensatory growth via resource redistribution from dead to surviving trees.
• Simplified annual growth increment simulations over long stand development periods.

Main Results:

• The TreeCG model accurately reproduced forest growth patterns from long-term thinning experiments.
• Simulated growth demonstrated compensatory growth dynamics: under-compensation, compensation-induced-equality, and over-compensation.
• Model validated against observed forest growth trajectories.

Conclusions:

• The TreeCG model can simulate stand growth under various partial harvest scenarios, aiding strategy selection.
• The model's generic nature allows refinement for specific species and sites, enhancing predictive power.
• Simulations align with natural stand growth trajectories when no intervention occurs.