Abstract
Acomprehensive, mechanistic simulation of wildland fire and ecosystem dynamics across a landscape may not be possible because of computer limitations, inadequate research, inconsistent data, and extensive parameterization. Therefore empirical and stochastic approaches must be substituted for many mechanistic modules until research and technology improve. Unfortunately, nonmechanistic approaches limit the scope and applicability of spatial ecosystem process models. Ecosystem dynamics models need to be refined so that appropriate compartments that model fire spread and effects are explicitly represented in their structure. Landscape disturbance models need to simulate fire growth unconstrained by vegetation polygon delineations. Most important, these models must be designed in the context of the simulation objective to ensure that appropriate simulation modules are included.