Forest ecosystems are characterized by high spatial heterogeneity, often related to complex composition and vertical structure which is a challenge in many process-based models (PBMs).
The need to expand PBMs to take in account such structural complexity led to development and testing of a new approach into Forest Ecosystem Models (FEMs), named 3D-CMCC-FEM, able to investigate carbon and water fluxes, including biomass pools and their partitioning, for complex multi-layer forests.
In a new study recently published on Ecological Modelling a team of scientists (among them, CMCC researchers A. Collalti, L. Perugini, M. Santini, T. Chiti and R. Valentini from IAFENT Division) developed and evaluated this model by simulating the effects of competition for light and water, growth and yield of a two-layered deciduous forest dominated by Turkey Oak in central Italy for a period of eight years.
Results highlighted that the proposed model reduced the error in the estimates of forest productivity and dynamics and indicates the importance of considering, as far as possible, the structural complexity in PBMs.

Read the integral version of the paper:

Collalti A., Perugini L., Santini M., Chiti T., Nolè A., Matteucci G., Valentini R.
A process-based model to simulate growth in forests with complex structure: Evaluation and use of 3D-CMCC Forest Ecosystem Model in a deciduous forest in Central Italy
2014, Ecological Modelling, Volume 272, pages 362–378, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.09.016