Modeling disturbance and succession in forest landscapes using LANDIS: introduction

Abstract

Modeling forest landscape change is challenging because it involves the interaction of a variety of factors and processes, such as climate, succession, disturbance, and management. These processes occur at various spatial and temporal scales, and the interactions can be complex on heterogeneous landscapes. Because controlled field experiments designed to investigate such broad-scale interactions are typically not possible, landscape models are among the few tools available to evaluate the processes underlying forest landscape response to alternative management and human-modified disturbance regimes.

Citation

Sturtevant, Brian R.; Gustafson, Eric J.; He, Hong S. 2004. Modeling disturbance and succession in forest landscapes using LANDIS: introduction. Ecological Modelling 180 (2004) 1?5