A simple individual model for simulating weight gain dynamics in response to intake rate and daily behavior

María Verónica Simoy

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 3, 727-736

Abstract: It is often necessary to estimate the weight that an individual may be capable of gaining depending on its degree of activity. A simple individual-based model was developed for studying the dynamics of weight in terms of daily behavior and ingestion rate. It was based on the balance between the individual's energy intake and the cost of its daily activities. Costs depend on the weight of the individual and the photoperiod, as well as on the time spent on each activity. Different combinations of ingestion rate, individual's weight, photoperiod length, and time assigned to different activities were used for simulating the weight dynamics, taking the species Rhea americana as a study case. Estimations of energetic costs of the activities were obtained from specialized literature. Using different photoperiods and individual behaviors, the model yields field metabolic rate (FMR) values in agreement with those obtained from direct measurements for other omnivorous bird species.

Keywords: Weight gain dynamics; Intake rate; Field metabolic rate; Daily behavior; Rhea americana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:3:p:727-736

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.10.028

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