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Confronting an individual-based simulation model with empirical community patterns of grasslands

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  • Franziska Taubert
  • Jessica Hetzer
  • Julia Sabine Schmid
  • Andreas Huth

Abstract

Grasslands contribute to global biogeochemical cycles and can host a high number of plant species. Both–species dynamics and biogeochemical fluxes–are influenced by abiotic and biotic environmental factors, management and natural disturbances. In order to understand and project grassland dynamics under global change, vegetation models which explicitly capture all relevant processes and drivers are required. However, the parameterization of such models is often challenging. Here, we report on testing an individual- and process-based model for simulating the dynamics and structure of a grassland experiment in temperate Europe. We parameterized the model for three species and confront simulated grassland dynamics with empirical observations of their monocultures and one two-species mixture. The model reproduces general trends of vegetation patterns (vegetation cover and height, aboveground biomass and leaf area index) for the monocultures and two-species community. For example, the model simulates well an average annual grassland cover of 70% in the species mixture (observed cover of 77%), but also shows mismatches with specific observation values (e.g. for aboveground biomass). By a sensitivity analysis of the applied inverse model parameterization method, we demonstrate that multiple vegetation attributes are important for a successful parameterization while leaf area index revealed to be of highest relevance. Results of our study pinpoint to the need of improved grassland measurements (esp. of temporally higher resolution) in close combination with advanced modelling approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Franziska Taubert & Jessica Hetzer & Julia Sabine Schmid & Andreas Huth, 2020. "Confronting an individual-based simulation model with empirical community patterns of grasslands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-19, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0236546
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236546
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Boris Sakschewski & Werner von Bloh & Alice Boit & Lourens Poorter & Marielos Peña-Claros & Jens Heinke & Jasmin Joshi & Kirsten Thonicke, 2016. "Resilience of Amazon forests emerges from plant trait diversity," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1032-1036, November.
    2. Soussana, Jean-François & Maire, Vincent & Gross, Nicolas & Bachelet, Bruno & Pagès, Loic & Martin, Raphaël & Hill, David & Wirth, Christian, 2012. "Gemini: A grassland model simulating the role of plant traits for community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Parameterization and evaluation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 134-145.
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