Boreal forest ecosystem dynamics. II. Application of the model to four vegetation types in interior Alaska

Abstract

The Spatial Alaskan Forest Ecosystem Dynamics (SAFED) model was validated across four of the most common vegetation types found in interior Alaska. The vegetation types were an alder (Alnus spp.) - balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) site (FP2), an old-growth balsam poplar and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) site (FP3), a mixed deciduous (primarily birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)) and white spruce site (UP2), and a mature white spruce site (UP3). The FP site types are common on the floodplain along the Tanana River and the UP site types are common in the uplands in interior Alaska. SAFED is based on nitrogen productivity for vegetation growth, litter fall quantity and quality, and microbial efficiency for forest floor decomposition. The state factors (climate, topography, and disturbance) are used to describe a broad-scale classification of the landscape to define basic limitations for the driving variables. Climate and ecosystem-level disturbances are handled as restricted stochastic processes. The model has been programed in a spatial framework as an ARC/INFO AML within the GRID package. The current version of the model has been validated as functional from an individual tree basis (1-m2 cell size) in a number of forest types found in interior Alaska. The growth, litter fall, and forest floor decomposition were compared with data from the sites. An estimate of yearly carbon balance for the four sites was calculated.