Individual-based modeling is a new, exciting discipline that allows ecologists to explore, using computer simulations, how properties of populations and ecosystems might evolve from the characteristics and behaviors of individual organisms. Individual-based Modeling and Ecology, written by Volker Grimm and Steven F. Railsback, gives an excellent introduction and overview of this field. It should be read by everyone interested in individual-based modeling, and especially by anyone contemplating developing, or being involved with a group developing, an individualbased model.

http://www.gbv.de/dms/weimar/toc/396272002_toc.pdf

Individual-based modeling and ecology

/pdf/ecosystems-their-properties-goods-and-services-s3a98obedp.pdf

Ecosystems, their properties, goods and services

Forest and woodland stand structural complexity: Its definition and measurement

Land use change is the result of interactions between processes operating at different scales. Simulation models at regional to global scales are often incapable of including locally determined processes of land use change. This paper introduces a modeling approach that integrates demand-driven changes in land area with locally determined conversion processes. The model is illustrated with an application for European land use. Interactions between changing demands for agricultural land and vegetation processes leading to the re-growth of (semi-) natural vegetation on abandoned farmland are explicitly addressed. Succession of natural vegetation is simulated based on the spatial variation in biophysical and management related conditions, while the dynamics of the agricultural area are determined by a global multi-sector model. The results allow an exploration of the future dynamics of European land use and landscapes. The model approach is similarly suitable for other regions and processes where large scale processes interact with local dynamics.

Combining top-down and bottom-up dynamics in land use modeling: exploring the future of abandoned farmlands in Europe with the Dyna-CLUE model

1. High elevation treelines 1.1 The task 1.2 Previous works 2. Definitions and conventions 2.1 The life form 'tree' 2.2 Lines and transitions 2.3 Limitation, stress and disturbance 2.4 Altitude-related and other environmental drivers 2.5 Treeline nomenclature 3. Treeline patterns 3.1 Treeline taxa 3.2 The summit syndrome and other treeline depressions 3.3 Mass elevation effect 3.4 Treeline elevation 3.5 Time matters 3.6 Forest structure near treeline 4. Treeline climate 4.1 Specific aspects of treeline climatology 4.2 Criteria to define temperature regimes at treeline 4.3 Treeline temperatures in different bioclimatic regions 4.4 Seedbed and branch temperatures 4.5 Whole forest temperatures 5. Global mountain statistics based on treeline elevation 5.1 Mountain geostatistics 5.2 Elevational belts 5.3 Global treeline ecotones 6. Structure and stature of treeline trees 6.1 Foliage properties 6.2 Wood properties 6.3 Bark properties 6.4 Root traits 6.5 Tree stature 6.6 Dry matter allocation in treeline trees 7. Growth and development 7.1 Tree growth near treeline 7.2 Xylogenesis at treeline 7.3 Apical growth dynamics 7.4 Root growth 7.5 Phenology at treeline 8. Evolutionary adjustments to life at treeline 8.1 Phylogenetic selection 8.2 Genotypic responses of growth and development 8.3 Genotypic responses of physiological traits 9. Reproduction, early life stages and tree demography 9.1 Amount and quality of seeds at high elevation 9.2 Germination, seedling and sapling stage 9.3 Tree demography at treeline 10. Freezing and other forms of stress 10.1 Stress at treeline in a fitness context 10.2 Mechanisms and principles of freezing resistance 10.3 Freezing resistance in treeline trees 10.4 Other forms of stress at treeline 11. Water, nutrient and carbon relations 11.1 Tree water relations during the growing season 11.2 Nutrient relations 11.3 Carbon relations 12. Treeline formation - currently, in the past and in the future 12.1 Causes of current treelines 12.2 Treelines in the recent past 12.3. Treelines in the distant past (Holocene) 12.4 Future treelines References Taxonomic index Subject index

Alpine treelines : functional ecology of the global high elevation tree limits

Forests of mountainous regions: gaps in knowledge and research needs

Protection forests are forests that have as their primary function the protection of people or assets against the impacts of natural hazards. The main 'product' of these forests are standing trees which act as obstacles to downslope mass movements such as rockfalls, snow avalanches, erosion, landslides, debris flows, and floods. The protective effect of these forests is ensured only if the silvicultural system used and any natural disturbances that occur leave a sufficient amount of forest cover. Management has therefore to take a very long-term perspective. This paper presents an overview of the occurrence and delimitation, ecology, stand structures and dynamics, and resistance and resilience of protection forests in the European Alps, and of suitable silvicultural systems. Guidelines for managing protection forests, which were developed collaboratively by Swiss forest managers and scientists, are described as an example of standardized decisionmaking in protection forests. Future research on protection forests should be directed towards synthesising existing knowledge in the natural sciences, engineering, and economics.

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Management of protection forests in the European Alps: an overview

Assessing structures in mountain forests as a basis for investigating the forests' dynamics and protective function

Forests as protection from natural hazards

https://www.parcs.ch/bvm/pdf_public/2015/30831_20150217_133534_schoenenberger_rottenaufforstung_cluster_affoestation_fem_2001.pdf

Walter Schönenberger

Papers

Forests of mountainous regions: gaps in knowledge and research needs

Management of protection forests in the European Alps: an overview

Assessing structures in mountain forests as a basis for investigating the forests' dynamics and protective function

Forests as protection from natural hazards

Cluster afforestation for creating diverse mountain forest structures — a review $