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On the Ecology of Mountainous Forests in a Changing Climate: A ...

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Parameter sensitivity & model validation 149<br />

Nor<strong>the</strong>rn & western deciduous forests<br />

Biomass (t/ha)<br />

300<br />

200<br />

100<br />

0<br />

C L Michigan W C Ohio W Missouri S C Arkansas<br />

Site<br />

Tsuga canadensis<br />

Tilia spp.<br />

Quercus spp. (S)<br />

Quercus spp. (N)<br />

Juglans spp.<br />

Ilex opaca<br />

Frax<strong>in</strong>us spp.<br />

Fagus grandifolia<br />

Celtis laevigata<br />

Castanea dentata<br />

Carya spp.<br />

Betula spp.<br />

Acer spp.<br />

Fig. 5.12: Species composition <strong>of</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn and western deciduous forests <strong>in</strong> eastern North<br />

America as estimated by <strong>the</strong> FORCLIM-E/P model.<br />

(Fig. 5.11), major differences are (1) <strong>the</strong> disappearance <strong>of</strong> Thuja, Picea, and Abies<br />

species; (2) a strong decrease <strong>of</strong> Acer saccharum; (3) an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> biomass <strong>of</strong> Fagus<br />

grandifolia and nor<strong>the</strong>rn oaks; (4) <strong>the</strong> appearance <strong>of</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn genera, such as Carya,<br />

Frax<strong>in</strong>us, Juglans, Juniperus, and Tilia. The FORCLIM model succeeds well simulat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>se transition forests (Küchler 1975).<br />

The forest simulated for West Central Division, Ohio, is dom<strong>in</strong>ated by nor<strong>the</strong>rn oaks and<br />

hickory species (Fig. 5.12). Chestnut (Castanea dentata) atta<strong>in</strong>s some importance,<br />

whereas <strong>the</strong> abundance <strong>of</strong> hemlock decreases with decreas<strong>in</strong>g latitude; <strong>in</strong> fact, it should<br />

be less abundant here than simulated by FORCLIM, if not absent entirely. FORENA and<br />

FORCLIM agree to a large extent on <strong>the</strong> composition <strong>of</strong> near-natural forests <strong>of</strong> this area<br />

(Solomon 1986).<br />

The Western Missouri area is characterized by open, almost woodland structured forests,<br />

a feature that is due to moisture stress, which is not simulated with <strong>the</strong> generous assumption<br />

<strong>of</strong> 30 cm field capacity (Fig. 5.12). Thus, total biomass <strong>in</strong>creases compared to <strong>the</strong><br />

Ohio area, which is not realistic. Possibly for <strong>the</strong> same reason FORCLIM simulates Fagus<br />

grandifolia, which is absent from this area. Moreover, FORCLIM produces small amounts<br />

<strong>of</strong> Tsuga canadensis although <strong>the</strong> species should be absent at <strong>the</strong>se latitudes and longitudes.<br />

However, <strong>the</strong> dom<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>of</strong> oak, hickory, and chestnut, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> exact

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