Reproducing reproduction: How to simulate mast seeding in forest models

•Masting has cascading effects on plant population dynamics, forest structure and ecosystem services.•Integrating masting into forest models is important to improve prediction accuracy.•We review mathematical and statistical models of masting patterns and processes.•Resource acquisition, storage and allocation were the processes most studied.•Masting can be implemented using a process-based approach, or using extensive empirical datasets of masting patterns.