Plant functional types (PFTs) refers to a grouping or classification system often used by ecologists and climatologists to classify plant species based on their similar functions and performances in an ecosystem.
[1] PFTs provide a finer level of modeling than biomes,[1] which represent gross areas such as desert, savannah, deciduous forest.
For each plant functional type, a number of key parameters are defined, such as fecundity, competitiveness, resorption (rate at which plant decays and returns nutrients to the soil after death), etc.
The value of each parameter is determined or inferred from observable characteristics such as plant height, leaf area, etc.
[2] Plant Functional Type (PFT) models have some limitations and problems.