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

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102 Chapter 4<br />

a nitrogen availability (uAvN) <strong>of</strong> 100 kg/ha was assumed at all sites. The simulation results<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FORCLIM-P model are shown <strong>in</strong> Fig. 4.6 & 4.7. They will be discussed for<br />

each site <strong>in</strong> turn:<br />

At <strong>the</strong> site Bever (Fig. 4.6), <strong>the</strong> FORCLIM-P model simulates a larch (Larix decidua) –<br />

spruce (Picea excelsa) forest. Swiss stone p<strong>in</strong>e (P<strong>in</strong>us cembra) is <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>or importance<br />

only, although it should dom<strong>in</strong>ate accord<strong>in</strong>g to Ellenberg & Klötzli (1972). The same<br />

happens at <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn slope (not shown), so that forests <strong>in</strong> Bever accord<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

FORCLIM-P exclusively belong to <strong>the</strong> Larici-Piceetum.<br />

At Davos (Fig. 4.6), FORCLIM-P correctly simulates a larch-spruce forest with some<br />

Swiss stone p<strong>in</strong>e (P. cembra) as well as Scots p<strong>in</strong>e (P<strong>in</strong>us silvestris). The occurrence <strong>of</strong><br />

black poplar (Populus nigra) may represent an anomaly; this species should be competitive<br />

on wet soils only (Hess et al. 1980). In <strong>the</strong> FORECE model, P. nigra was excluded<br />

by <strong>the</strong> static soil moisture <strong>in</strong>dicator concept (Kienast 1987), which was omitted <strong>in</strong><br />

FORCLIM (cf. section 2.3.1).<br />

Simulation results at <strong>the</strong> site Bern (Fig. 4.7) are characterized by a strong dom<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>of</strong><br />

beech (Fagus silvatica), accompanied by silver fir (Abies alba), Norway spruce (P.<br />

excelsa), maple (Acer spp.), and black poplar (P. nigra). Especially dur<strong>in</strong>g early succession,<br />

oak (Quercus petraea, Q. robur) are important species. This pattern conforms more<br />

to <strong>the</strong> descriptions by Ellenberg & Klötzli (1972) than <strong>the</strong> forest simulated by FORECE,<br />

which was dom<strong>in</strong>ated by beech, silver fir, maple, and l<strong>in</strong>den (Tilia spp.). In <strong>the</strong> FORECE<br />

simulations, oak was not present at all, and maple (especially A. platanoides) was too<br />

abundant (Kienast 1987). In FORCLIM-P, silver fir may be too abundant, but it is less so<br />

than <strong>in</strong> FORECE.<br />

Tab. 4.4: Litter production [t·ha -1·yr -1 ] <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FORCLIM-P model simulated <strong>in</strong> isolation, averaged from<br />

<strong>the</strong> model output between <strong>the</strong> simulation years 1000 and 1200 (200 patches). Symbols: uFL – foliage<br />

litter (1 = fast, 2 = medium, 3 = slow decay); uTL – twig litter; uWL – stemwood litter; a.g. –<br />

aboveground; uRL – f<strong>in</strong>e root litter.<br />

Site uFL1 uFL2 uFL3 uTL uWL total a.g. uRL<br />

Bever N 0.02 0.05 1.3 0.8 1.9 4.1 5.5<br />

Bever S 0.02 0.06 1.2 0.8 1.4 3.5 5.0<br />

Davos 0.02 0.3 1.1 0.8 2.1 4.3 5.8<br />

Bern 0.22 2.0 0.05 1.0 4.4 7.7 9.2<br />

Sion 0.02 1.5 0.04 0.6 4.4 7.7 9.2<br />

Locarno 0.23 2.2 0 1.0 4.8 8.2 9.7

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