GMF mortality is a growth-based mortality behavior.
Trees killed by this behavior will have a mortality reason code of "natural".
Parameter name | Description |
---|---|
Light-Dependent Mortality | Light-dependent mortality. |
Mortality at Zero Growth | Mortality rate at zero growth. |
The GMF mortality model evaluates the following function to determine the probability of a tree's mortality:
The GMF mortality equation is for a 5 year timestep. The mortality parameters are for a 2.5 year probability of mortality. To calculate the 5 year probability of mortality, SORTIE uses p' = 1 - (1 - p)2. Once the probability of mortality is calculated for a tree, SORTIE generates a random number to which to compare it to determine whether the tree will live or die.
This model was originally described in Kobe et al 1995.
The GMF mortality function assumes a timestep length of five years, so that must be your timestep length in order to use this behavior. This behavior can be applied to seedlings, saplings, and adults of any species. Any tree species/type combination to which it is applied must also have a growth behavior applied.