MEDGROW : Vegetationsdynamik und Kulturlandschaftswandel im Mittelmeerraum

This book is a shortened and published version of MEDGROW, a groundbreaking deterministic simulation model developed to analyze vegetation dynamics and perturbation regimes in Mediterranean ecosystems. The model was accepted as a PhD thesis at the University of Mannheim in 1999. Although the tool itself is outdated (as of July 2026), the conceptual framework—particularly its integration of climatic, geographical, and species-specific parameters—continues to provide valuable insights for modern ecological modeling and landscape research.
MEDGROW was designed to simulate competition for light and space, incorporating climatic factors (e.g., precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, latitude), geographical conditions (e.g., altitude, substratum depth), and species-specific parameters (e.g., growth functions, sexual maturity, fire tolerance, resprouting ability). It enabled the analysis of perturbation stressors, such as wildfires, fauna, forestry practices, and calamities, including large-scale fire regimes, on vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean ecosystems in Europe.
The book’s eight chapters outline the theoretical underpinnings of MEDGROW, its development process, and the empirical fieldwork that informed its growth functions. ... mehrIt describes the model’s core modules, addresses validation challenges, and presents case studies demonstrating its utility in exploring alternative perturbation scenarios. The work concludes with a critical assessment of MEDGROW’s potential and limitations, offering a methodological blueprint for understanding vegetation and wildfire dynamics in Mediterranean landscapes.