Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget
Authored by Clive R McMahon, Merel Goedegebuure, Jessica Melbourne-Thomas, Stuart P Corney, Mark A Hindell
Date Published: 2018
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194950
Sponsors:
No sponsors listed
Platforms:
NetLogo
Model Documentation:
ODD
Flow charts
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
http://modelingcommons.org/browse/one_model/5348#model_tabs_browse_info
Abstract
Higher trophic-level species are an integral component of any marine
ecosystem. Despite their importance, methods for representing these
species in end-to-end ecosystem models often have limited representation
of life histories, energetics and behaviour. We built an
individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget for female
southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina to demonstrate a method for
detailed representation of marine mammals. We aimed to develop a model
which could i) simulate energy use and life histories, as well as
breeding traits of southern elephant seals in an emergent manner, ii)
project a stable population over time, and iii) have realistic
population dynamics and structure based on emergent life history
features (such as age at first breeding, lifespan, fecundity and
(yearling) survival). We evaluated the model's ability to represent a
stable population over long time periods (> 10 generations), including
the sensitivity of the emergent properties to variations in key
parameters. Analyses indicated that the model is sensitive to changes in
resource availability and energy requirements for the transition from
pup to juvenile, and juvenile to adult stage. This was particularly the
case for breeding success and yearling survival. This model is suitable
for use as a standalone tool for investigating the impacts of changes to
behaviour and population responses of southern elephant seals.
Tags
Complexity
behavior
Conservation
Population-growth
Survival
Marine ecosystem models
Macquarie-island
Matrix
models
Hot-iron
Restriction