The process- oriented feedbacks among the biotic and abiotic
modules of the General Ecosystem Model (vertical solutions) of ELM.
Dynamics of live and standing dead macrophytes alter surface
water runoff through changes in structure and thus surface roughness. Water
losses via transpiration vary with changes in biomass (leaf area index) and
physical canopy structure. Availability of water in surface, unsaturated and
saturated storage is one control on plant growth and mortality. Hydrologic
algorithms also transport dissolved nutrients and control their remineralization,
while nutrient availability and uptake kinetics can control plant growth. Dead
organic matter, in different forms of storage and with variable C:P stoichiometry, is
involved in nutrient cycling.
