1. General Model Information

Name: AFRICA

Acronym: AFRICA

Main medium: terrestrial
Main subject: biogeochemistry
Organization level: organism
Type of model: ordinary differential equations
Main application:
Keywords: grassland, morphometric traits, physiological processes, shoot, carbon, nitrogen, allocation, translocation, East Africa graminoids

Contact:

Dr. Michael B. Coughenour
Natural Resources Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523

Phone: (970) 491-5572
Fax: (970) 491-1965
email: mikec@nrel.colostate.edu

Author(s):

Dr. Michael B. Coughenour

Abstract:

This model was developed to show how morphometric traits of plants and associated physiological processes are interrelated. The model includes a shoot number submodel, a carbon assimilation and allocation submodel, and a nitrogen uptake and allocation submodel. Growth is partitioned into blade, sheath, stem and flower components. Simulated processes include shoot growth, tillering, root growth, photosynthesis, nitrogen uptake, and translocation. Results for East Africa graminoids suggest that an increased understanding of primary production and plant adaption could result from increased attention to the interactions among morphological traits and physiological processes. Aboveground processes simulated in the AFRICA model:

(1) Photosynthesis (nutrient, phenology or leaf age, carbohydrates)
(2) Growth (nutrient, carbohydrates)
(3) Carbon allocation (variable allocation to nutrient ratio, leaf area, phenology or leaf age)
(4) Death (phenology or leaf age).

Belowground processes simulated in the AFRICA model :

(1) Carbon allocation (fixed allocation)
(2) Root growth (nitrogen, carbon)
(3) Death (constant rate)
(4) Uptake (nitrogen)
(5) Respiration (constant rate).

(from: Hanson, J.D.; Parton, W.J.; Innis, G.S.; 1985 : Plant growth and production of grassland ecosystems: A comparison of modelling approaches. Ecological Modelling (29), P. 131-144.)

II. Technical Information

II.1 Executables:

Operating System(s):

II.2 Source-code:

Programming Language(s):

II.3 Manuals:

II.4 Data:

III. Mathematical Information

III.1 Mathematics

III.2 Quantities

III.2.1 Input

III.2.2 Output

IV. References

Coughenour,M.B.; McNaughton, S.J.; Wallace, L.L.; 1984 : Modelling primary production of perennial graminoids- uniting physiological processes and morphometric traits. Ecological Modelling (23), P. 101-134.

Hanson, J.D.; Parton, W.J.; Innis, G.S.; 1985 : Plant growth and production of grassland ecosystems -A comparison of modelling approaches. Ecological Modelling (29), P. 131-144.

V. Further information in the World-Wide-Web

VI. Additional remarks

Last review of this document by: ,
Status of the document:
last modified by Tobias Gabele Wed Aug 21 21:44:39 CEST 2002