How did you initialize your model, e.g. using individual tree dbh and height or stand basal area? how do you initialize soil conditions?: GOTILWA+ used representative average individuals per DBH class, each class defined at 5 cm increases. Data from the representative individuals was scaled up to the stand level by using the stand density per DBH class.
How is management implemented? e.g. do you harvest biomass/basal area proportions or by tree numbers or dimensions (target dbh)?: GOTILWA+ has several different options to implement forest management, but in this case the simulations where run by removing a percent of trees, randomly from the different DBH classes, during the management intervention.
When is harvesting simulated by your model (start/middle/end of the year, i.e., before or after the growing season)?: At DOY 365 each year at which a management intervention occurs.
How do you regenerate? do you plant seedlings one year after harvest or several years of gap and then plant larger saplings?: Regenerate appears at the same time than each harvest, with a pre-defined stand density of individuals belonging to 0-5 cm DBH class.
How are the unmanaged simulations designed? is there some kind of regrowth/regeneration or are the existing trees just growing older and older?: The existing trees grow, without further regeneration, if there is no management intervention.
Does your model consider leap-years or a 365 calendar only? or any other calendar?: Only 365 days per year
In hyytiälä and kroof, how did you simulate the "minor tree species"? e.g. in hyytiälä did you simulate only pine trees and removed the spruce trees or did you interpret spruce basal area as being pine basal area?: We interpreted the spruce basal area as pine basal area for the same DBH class. We did not simulate kroof stand.
How did you simulate nitrogen deposition from 2005 onwards in the 2b picontrol run? please confirm you kept them constant at 2005-levels?: GOTILWA+ does not account for N cycle.
Is there any stochastic element in your model (e.g. in the management or mortality submodel) that will lead to slightly different results if the model is re-run, even though all drivers etc. remain the same?: Not major differences, but the management procedure introduces some randomness in the model outputs.
What is the minimum diameter at which a „tree is considered a tree“? and is there a similar threshold for the minimum harvestable diameter?: From 5 cm DBH
Has your model been "historically calibrated" to any of the sites you simulated? e.g. has the site been used for model testing during model development?: No as far as I know, and especially not the current version of the model
