Plant functional type

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Plant functional types (PFTs) refers to a grouping or classification system often used by ecologists and

climatologists to classify plant species based on their similar functions and performances in an ecosystem. It is a way to simplify the complexity of plant diversity and behaviour in ecological models by grouping plants into categories that share common functional characteristics. This simplification helps researchers model vegetation dynamics which can be used in land use studies and climate models.[1]

PFTs provide a finer level of modeling than

Plant Functional Type (PFT) models have some limitations and problems. For example, it is difficult for

climatologists and ecologists to determine which minimal set of plant characteristics best model the actual responses of the biosphere in response to climate changes.[2] Furthermore, by oversimplifying species to a few key traits, researchers may not capture the full diversity and variability of plant species within a given ecosystem or represent rare or unique species. As such, researchers are developing more sophisticated models, such as trait-based models, to address these problems.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Plant Functional Types". Community Land Model. National Center for Atmospheric Research.
  2. ^ a b .
  3. .