Hemstrom, Miles; Adams, Virginia Dale. 1982. Modeling long-term forest succession in the Pacific Northwest. In: Means, Joseph E., ed. Forest succession and stand development research in the Northwest: Proceedings of the symposium, (part of the Northwest Scientific Association annual meetings); 1981 March 26; Corvallis, OR. Corvallis, OR: Forest Research Laboratory, Oregon State University: 14-23.
A computer model has been developed tosimulate forest succession in western Oregon andWashington based on models for other geographiclocations. The model tracks the birth, growth anddeath of individual trees in a forest gap. Birtn israndom for species able to grow in the existing shadecondition. Species-specific diameter increment isdependent on tree diameter, existing foliage biomass,temperature and moisture effects upon growth, competi-tion and shade tolerance. Slow-growth relatedmortality is conditioned by the size of the tree andthe successional status of the species. The resultsof simulations for xeric and mesic sites in Oregoncompare well to species composition and tree sizemeasured in representative forests of each moisturetype. Model development suggested parameters whichare likely to have major effects on forest successionbut which have not been measured in forests as thespecies composition changes over time. The model isparticularly useful for long-term analysis of theeffects of disturbances.
KEYWORDS--simulation, mortality, diameter increment