Modeling competition between plants using an Individual Based Model: Methods and effects on the growth of two species with contrasted growth forms
Authored by M Garbey, B Clement, C Mony, A -K Bittebiere
Date Published: 2012
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.05.028
Sponsors:
French National Research Agency (ANR)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
Individual Based Models are emergent modeling approaches that are
developed on the behavior of interacting individuals to study ecosystems
properties. Their relevance resides in the validity of the interaction
rules between individuals defined in the model. Competitive interactions
between plant individuals can be implemented from the combination of
four main attributes: (i) the zone of interaction of the target plant, (ii) the intensity of competition, (iii) the effect of competition, and
(iv) the target plant response. This study aims at determining the
effects of the method used for modeling competition on the performance
and individual architecture of two species. We simulated the growth of a
guerilla and of a phalanx species either in monoculture or in mixture
using 61 methods for modeling competition derived from the published
literature and implemented in an Individual Based Model. We showed that
(i) the performance and individual architecture of the two species
varies with the modeling method, (ii) the effect of the modeling method
on the model outputs depends on the species and on the assemblage
considered. We subsequently emphasized the importance of accurately
calibrating models in particular with experimental data. We finally
proposed basic rules supported by literature to evaluate the relevance
of the different methods tested. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights
reserved.
Tags
phenotypic plasticity
Spatial structure
Simulation-model
Population-dynamics
Neighborhood competition
Grassland community
Vegetative reproduction
Structural blue-print
Clonal plants
Physiological
integration