EcoSIM Vegetation Code

Overview

Use this skill to translate real site vegetation into the six-character EcoSIM vegetation/PFT code used in plant management data. The authoritative code scheme is the EcoSIM PFT parameter CDL, especially variables pfts, pfts_short, pfts_long, koppen_clim_no, koppen_clim_short, and koppen_clim_long.

Workflow

1. Locate the scheme file. Prefer the user's requested CDL; otherwise use templates/ecosim_pftpar_20260303.nc.cdl from the EcoSIM workspace. If the file is missing, ask for the current PFT parameter CDL.
2. Identify the site vegetation. Extract growth form, dominant taxa, crop identity, leaf type, life cycle, wetland status, N fixation, and whether the vegetation is C3/C4 or annual/perennial when applicable.
3. Map the vegetation to pfts_short using pfts_long as the meaning of each short code. Read references/pft_mapping_reference.md when the mapping is not obvious.
4. Determine the Koppen numerical code. Use a provided EcoSIM grid/Koppen code if available. If the user provides a Koppen class like Cfb, map it through koppen_clim_short; if they provide only coordinates or a place name, use project data first and ask before relying on external climate lookup.
5. Compose the candidate code as <pfts_short><koppen_clim_no>, such as ndlf34 or gr3s62.
6. Validate the exact six-character code against pfts. Never invent a code that is not present in pfts; if the exact candidate is missing, report the closest available codes for the selected pfts_short and say that adding a PFT parameter record may be required.
7. Return a compact table with site vegetation, selected pfts_short, pfts_long, Koppen class/number, final EcoSIM code, and any uncertainty.

Lookup Script

Use scripts/ecosim_pft_lookup.py to validate the current CDL rather than copying tables by hand.

Examples from an EcoSIM repository root:

python3 /path/to/skill/scripts/ecosim_pft_lookup.py --cdl templates/ecosim_pftpar_20260303.nc.cdl --search spruce
python3 /path/to/skill/scripts/ecosim_pft_lookup.py --cdl templates/ecosim_pftpar_20260303.nc.cdl --short ndlf --koppen Csa
python3 /path/to/skill/scripts/ecosim_pft_lookup.py --cdl templates/ecosim_pftpar_20260303.nc.cdl --list-koppen

EcoSIM Input Note

When preparing pft_type in plant management input, remember that PlantInfoMod.F90 reads the PFT string and, when KoppenClimZone_col > 0, uses the first four characters of pft_type plus the grid's two-digit Koppen climate code. If KoppenClimZone_col == 0, the code path preserves the characters provided in pft_type. Still validate the final six-character code against pfts.

Mapping Guidance

• Use specific crop codes when the site vegetation is a crop: maiz, rice, soyb, swhe, barl, oats, alfa, clva, or clvs.
• Use tree codes by leaf type and special taxa: broadleaf general bdlf, broadleaf wetland bdlw, N-fixing broadleaf bdln, evergreen needleleaf ndlf, deciduous needleleaf ndld, Douglas fir dfir, jack pine jpin, loblolly pine lpin, black spruce bspr, aspen tasp, oak woak.
• Use herbaceous codes by functional group: perennial C3 grass gr3s, perennial C4 grass gr4s, annual C3 grass gr3a, sedge sedg, brome brom, deer grass dgra, wild oats woat.
• Use lower plant codes directly when observed: lichen lich, sphagnum moss moss, feather moss variants mosf or fmos, sphagnum near sedge smos.
• For ambiguous shrub/bush descriptions, present candidates rather than forcing one code: shru, bush, or N-fixing busn.