Allometric constraints and competition enable the simulation of size structure and carbon fluxes in a dynamic vegetation model of tropical forests (LM3PPA-TV)

© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd..

Tropical forests are a key determinant of the functioning of the Earth system, but remain a major source of uncertainty in carbon cycle models and climate change projections. In this study, we present an updated land model (LM3PPA-TV) to improve the representation of tropical forest structure and dynamics in Earth system models (ESMs). The development and parameterization of LM3PPA-TV drew on extensive datasets on tropical tree traits and long-term field censuses from Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. The model defines a new plant functional type (PFT) based on the characteristics of shade-tolerant, tropical tree species, implements a new growth allocation scheme based on realistic tree allometries, incorporates hydraulic constraints on biomass accumulation, and features a new compartment for tree branches and branch fall dynamics. Simulation experiments reproduced observed diurnal and seasonal patterns in stand-level carbon and water fluxes, as well as mean canopy and understory tree growth rates, tree size distributions, and stand-level biomass on BCI. Simulations at multiple sites captured considerable variation in biomass and size structure across the tropical forest biome, including observed responses to precipitation and temperature. Model experiments suggested a major role of water limitation in controlling geographic variation forest biomass and structure. However, the failure to simulate tropical forests under extreme conditions and the systematic underestimation of forest biomass in Paleotropical locations highlighted the need to incorporate variation in hydraulic traits and multiple PFTs that capture the distinct floristic composition across tropical domains. The continued pressure on tropical forests from global change demands models which are able to simulate alternative successional pathways and their pace to recovery. LM3PPA-TV provides a tool to investigate geographic variation in tropical forests and a benchmark to continue improving the representation of tropical forests dynamics and their carbon storage potential in ESMs.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:26

Enthalten in:

Global change biology - 26(2020), 8 vom: 21. Aug., Seite 4478-4494

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Martínez Cano, Isabel [VerfasserIn]
Shevliakova, Elena [VerfasserIn]
Malyshev, Sergey [VerfasserIn]
Wright, S Joseph [VerfasserIn]
Detto, Matteo [VerfasserIn]
Pacala, Stephen W [VerfasserIn]
Muller-Landau, Helene C [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

7440-44-0
Barro Colorado Island
Carbon
Carbon cycle
Earth system models
Forest production
Journal Article
LM3PPA-TV
Tropical forest

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 26.11.2020

Date Revised 26.11.2020

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1111/gcb.15188

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM310457947