Modelling Mediterranean Landscape Succession-Disturbance Dynamics: A Landscape Fire-Succession Model

Author(s):

Millington, James; Wainwright; John; Perry, George L.W.; Romero-Calcerrada, Raul; Malamud, Bruce D.

Journal or Book Title: Environmental Modelling & Software

Keywords: Landscape fire-succession model; Wildfire regime; Succession-disturbance dynamics; Mediterranean landscape; Pattern-oriented modelling

Volume/Issue: 24

Page Number(s): 1196-1208

Year Published: 2009

Abstract:

We present a spatially explicit Landscape Fire-Succession Model (LFSM) developed to represent Mediterranean Basin landscapes and capable of integrating modules and functions that explicitly represent human activity. Plant-functional types are used to represent spatial and temporal competition for resources (water and light) in a rule-based modelling framework. Vegetation dynamics are represented using a rule-based community-level modelling approach that considers multiple succession pathways and vegetation climax states. Wildfire behaviour is represented using a cellular-automata model of fire spread that accounts for land-cover flammability, slope, wind and vegetation moisture. Results show that wildfire spread parameters have the greatest influence on two aspects of the model: land-cover change and the wildfire regime. This sensitivity highlights the importance of accurately parameterising this type of grid-based model for representing landscape-level processes. We use a pattern-oriented modelling approach in conjunction with wildfire power-law frequency-area scaling exponent b to calibrate the model. Parameters describing the role of soil moisture on vegetation dynamics are also found to significantly influence land-cover change. Recent improvements in understanding the role of soil moisture and wildfire fuel loads at the landscape-level will drive advances in Mediterranean LFSMs.

DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.03.013

Type of Publication: Journal Article

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