A theory of forest dynamics – 50 years of forest gap models

Abstract:

Forest gap models has become an important tool for ecology, forestry and environmental science in the last 50 years. With his seminal book from 1984 Hank Shugart inspired a new generation of scientists to analyse the dynamics of forests all over the world. In more than 200 studies forests and forest processes has been analysed by using forest gap models. Forest gap models are one of most applied model type in ecology. The represent an important class of individual based models with a strong link to empirical field data. These models have strongly shaped the concept how impacts of climate change on vegetation are studied today.

It is time to look back and to discuss what has been reaches so far. What have we learned about forests and biodiversity by using forest gap models? What are future challenges for modelling vegetation? How can we increase our understanding on forests and vegetation by combining modelling, inventories and remote sensing?