Gap model and its application in studies of global climate change

Forest gap model is an individual-based forest model being used extensively in simulating and predicting the long-term dynamics of forest succession, and a useful tool for studying the potential responses of forest ecosystem to climate change. In this paper, the development and evolution process of forest gap model was generalized into three stages, i. e., initial stage, rapid developing stage and advancing stage, and its development trend was proposed. The adaptation and necessity of modeling in studying the relationships between forest and climate under the background of global climate change were discussed, and the internationally relevant research foci and frontiers were reviewed. The domestic research in this area was reviewed as well. It was pointed out that improving present models, building new models, and coupling multiple models should be the development trend in our prediction research of gap models in the future.