A generic, individual-based approach to modelling higher trophic levels in simulation of terrestrial ecosystems
Authored by L Parrott, R Kok
Date Published: 2002
DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3800(02)00065-0
Sponsors:
National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Platforms:
C
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Flow charts
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
In this article, a description is given of the manner in which higher
trophic levels (animals) are represented in a generally configurable
ecosystem model. The animals are modelled using an individual-based
approach that is sufficiently generic to allow for the representation of
organisms of different types of species via the specification of
appropriate sets of parameter values. Animal behaviours and
physiological functions are described with simple mechanistic rules that
are derived from various assumptions about, for example, growth rates, metabolic requirements, digestion and assimilation of food, or
gestation. The animals interact in a detailed, spatially explicit
environment that consists of a terrain, an atmosphere, and various
species of primary producers. The model has been implemented in
simulation to explore population dynamics in multi-species ecosystems
configured with two and three trophic levels. Sample simulation results
are presented, together with a discussion of the effectiveness of the
approach for the representation of animals in ecosystem modelling. (C)
2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Tags
Dynamics
ecology
Populations
Yellow perch
Organisms
Oneida-lake