Modeling the effect of rockfall on forest development in a dynamic forest landscape model

Mountain forests below rocky cliffs are regularly impacted by falling blocks. Rockfall thus increases tree mortality and can locally alter the forest structure. At same time, trees decelerate or stop blocks play an important role in protecting settlements infrastructure from rockfall impacts. Furthermore, upper part of a slope protect further downslope. Considering interaction between dynamics disturbance dynamic models is necessary to accurately predict development protection long term. In this study, we integrated disturbing effect on landscape model TreeMig through coupling with three-dimensional simulations analyzed rockfall-forest feedback over time. We introduced additional per cell, based probability severity derived simulations. implemented potential using meta-model sensitivity varying disturbances for case study Swiss Alps. With increasing disturbance, total biomass decreased, whereby differences were relatively small at scale complex, but more pronounced local (cell) scale. Generally, comparison light detection ranging (LiDAR)-derived data showed better agreement modeled reality when considering effect. The coupled revealed positive development. Disturbance clearly decreased advancing growth, which, however, lead overestimated recolonization disturbed areas. Still, module improved TreeMig. Future improvement should include representation soil formation water availability areas consideration long-term effects disturbances, such as pests diseases. modeling particularly relevant small-scale studies requiring detailed spatial cover, management.