Dynamic Global Vegetation Modelling (DGVM)
DGVM approaches are powerful but as yet incomplete tools for simulating functioning landscapes at scales of a few kilometers to entire continents. We are engaged with colleagues at Frankfurt University, Senkenberg, and Bayreuth University in both applying and enhancing the Adaptative DGVM, developed originally for African ecosystems. We are also attempting to include DGVM projections as predictive layers into SDM approaches, to account for ecosystem structural shifts on species ranges.
Landscape flux measurement
Eddy flux methodologies permit the measurement of the productivity and water use of landscapes, via the use of sophisticated instrumentation positioned for months to years at selected sites. These data allow an understanding of the carbon sequestration and water use efficiency of landscapes under changing and fluctuating climatic conditions, and are important in building models for the projection of future behavior and resilience. We are working on two systems in depth, a mixed grass-shrubland (Nama Karoo) near Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, and a site that Savanna, Grassland and Nama-Karoo landscapes at Benfontein, Northern Cape. Included in this study is an effort to establish soil respiration behaviour in response to events and seasonal changes.