Development of an ecosystem model of hydrology, vegetation growth and species interdependence in a variety of forests in southern Colombia

Supervisor: Dr. Mark Mulligan, Department of Geography, King's College London

This project will use the hydrological and biological elements of the HERB methodology in an integrated context to develop a tropical forest ecosystem model based on the work of Mulligan (1995a,b). The model will be a tightly coupled hydrology and vegetation growth model linked to the HERB GIS data. The model will be driven from HERB landscape and climatic data and provide results to the HERB GIS model of landscape and biological sensitivity to environmental change. Ecosystem modelling techniques developed by Mulligan will be complimented by approaches developed under the MEDALUS programme at King's and by methods developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA). The student will develop the ecosystem model in conjunction with Mulligan and parameterise the model for current conditions at sites in La Planada and Rio Ñambi , Nariño. This thesis will provide an interfacing mechanism for much of biogeochemical, hydrological and ecological research of the HERB project. The student will be trained in field techniques for validation of the model and will use the climatic scenarios developed under the HERB project to explore the ecosystem implications of different scenarios for environmental change.

This project compliments the ecological core of the HERB project.

Mulligan (1995a) Modelling the Hydrology of Vegetation Competition in a Desertification Context. PhD Thesis, University of London, King's College.

Mulligan(1995b) The Complexity of Land Surface Response to Climatic Variability in Mediterranean Environments. Advances in Hillslope Processes, Submitted.

Reynolds,J.F., Hilbert,D.W., Chen,J., Harley,P.C.,Kemp,P.R. and Leadley,P.W. (1992) Modelling the Response of Plants and Ecosystems to Elevated CO₂ and Climate Change. US DOE Environmental Report /ER-60490T-H1. Oak Ridge, USA.

Bell JC, Cunningham RL, Havens MW (1994) Soil Drainage Class Probability Mapping Using A Soil-Landscape Model. Soil Science Society Of America Journal, 1994, Vol.58, No.2, Pp.464-470

Raich JW, Rastetter EB, Melillo JM, Kicklighter DW, Steudler PA, Peterson BJ, Grace AL, Moore B, Vorosmarty CJ (1991) Potential Net Primary Productivity In South-America - Application Of A Global-Model. Ecological Applications, 1991, Vol.1, No.4, Pp.399-429.

Bonan GB (1994) Comparison Of 2 Land-Surface Process Models Using Prescribed Forcings. Journal Of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 1994, Vol.99, No.d12, Pp.25803-25818