MSxk2/105 Pl - Juniper - Grouseberry - Feather moss

Dry gentle slopes and level areas with coarse soils. Overstorey dominated by Pl with minor Fd. Scattered Sx is sometimes present in the understorey but sites typically too dry to support Sx.

Pl shows decline over time whereas Fd shows good suitability well into the future. Lw is marginally suitable. Sx and Bl show rapid decline. Py shows moderate suitability by 2100 at about 40%.

I do not understand why sites are unsuitable for Pl in long term. Currently sites are likely subject to frost issues for Fd without overstorey protection so establishment is likely a problem. Same for Py which is not frost tolerant and shade tolerant so it is unlikely to be a dominant species in the future. Fd may be suitable but only if frost conditions are no longer an issue. Hence, Pl is still likely the best choice at this point.

Start with the suitability results described in the issue, comparing Pl, Fd, Py, Lw, Sx, and Bl across current and 2100 conditions. Done means resolving why Pl is unsuitable long term and documenting or correcting the species recommendation; no repository files or tests are identified.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.