# Simulating Forest Dynamics of Lowland Rainforests in Eastern Madagascar
## 2 Materials and Methods
### Species Grouping into Plant Functional Types  
In this study, we used two characteristics for grouping species into plant functional types (PFTs): shade tolerance and the potential maximum height of the tree. Following [PERSON] [15], we assumed three light demand classes, including: shade intolerant (pioneer species), shade tolerant trees (climax species), and intermediate shade tolerance. In addition, five canopy strata [37]: emergent trees, main canopy, understory, woody treelets (splings), and forest floor shrubs or small trees are layered into the model. The 244 tree species identified in Betampona study plots were classified based on information from literature [28] and expert knowledge (botanists at the Missouri Botanical Garden Office in Antananarivo, Madagascar). The maximum height of each tree species was determined using the survey plot data, though in some cases, trees were assigned to a larger height class than suggested by field data, based on information from local botanists at the Missouri Botanical Garden Office in Antananarivo, Madagascar, the local guide, and conservations agents at Betampona, or observations of the species outside of the plot. Species that occurred in very low frequencies among survey plots and could not be identified beyond the family level of classification were left out of the model, but in total constituted less than 0.5% of the overall biomass found in the plots. Because not all possible combinations of size and light class were found to exist in Betampona (e.g., shade intolerant forest floor herbs), species were divided among 12 total groups. Table 1 (below) lists the size and light demand parameters for each group. Figure 2 below shows the growth curve fitting for all 244 species found within the 12 PFTs. Growth curves were drawn from diameter growth increments (cm/year) and DBH (cm) for all individuals, the equations of which provided PFT-specific growth rate model parameters. Stem counts and the number of species that make up each group are included as derived from the survey plot data. A full species grouping list for Betampona (BTP) is documented in Supplementary A. Similarly, the inventory dataset gathered in Zahamena National Park (ZNP) was divided into the FORMIND plant functional types that were derived for BTP as there were many overlapping species and a similar canopy structure. A full species grouping list for ZNP can be found in Supplementary D. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{**FORMIND Parameters for RNI Betampona, Madagascar**} \\ \hline \hline \multicolumn{1}{c}{PFT} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{Size Class} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{Light Class} & Height Class Range (m) & \multicolumn{1}{c}{Stem Count} & \multicolumn{1}{c}{Species Count} \\ \hline
1 & \multirow{2}{*}{1} & tolerant & \(\leq\)33 & 451 & 14 \\
2 & & intermediate & \(\leq\)33 & 107 & 2 \\ \hline
3 & \multirow{2}{*}{2} & tolerant & \multirow{2}{*}{24–32.99} & 496 & 32 \\
4 & & intermediate & & 205 & 8 \\ \hline
5 & \multirow{4}{*}{3} & tolerant & \multirow{2}{*}{16–23.99} & 674 & 41 \\
6 & & intermediate & & 173 & 15 \\
7 & & intermediate & & 29 & 4 \\ \hline
8 & \multirow{4}{*}{4} & tolerant & \multirow{2}{*}{10–15.99} & 499 & 52 \\
9 & & intermediate & & 195 & 19 \\
10 & & intermediate & & 19 & 5 \\ \hline
11 & \multirow{2}{*}{5} & tolerant & \multirow{2}{*}{10–15.99} & 99 & 28 \\
12 & & intermediate & & 20 & 13 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} RNI stands for Reserve Naturelle Integrale; PFT stands for Plant Functional Type. Height classes were drawn from height measurements and where possible, known maximum heights of tree species, and were verified by noting natural height clusters of tree heights graphs at differing canopy levels (emergent, main canopy, sub-canopy, etc.).  
\end{table} 
Table 1: Derived grouping of tree species (in total 12 groups) and stem- and species-count calculated from 2004 and 2005 inventory plot data. Figure 2: Maximum growth curve comparison among species groups for Betampona (BTP) 2004–2005 (blue points); 2004–2008 (black points).