Representing mediating effects and species reintroductions in Ecopath with Ecosim

Maria J. Espinosa-Romero, Edward J. Gregr, Carl Walters, Villy Christensen and Kai M.A. Chan

Ecological Modelling, 2011, vol. 222, issue 9, 1569-1579

Abstract: Ecosystem models play an important role in supporting ecosystem approaches to management. To improve the representation of how ecosystems work, ecosystem models should be able to represent mediating effects (e.g., habitat provision) that species provide to each other as well as species (re)introductions, both common situations that can strongly influence ecosystem dynamics. We examine how such processes can be incorporated into Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE), a widely used tool for represent aquatic ecosystems with the potential to support ecosystem-based management. We used the reintroduction of sea otters (Enhydralutris) to the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada as a case study. The model demonstrates how to account for benefits provided by kelp forests by contributing to primary production, increased feeding areas and food availability through prey retention. It also demonstrates how the reintroduction and range expansion of sea otters can be represented in Ecospace, and the implications of these options.

Keywords: Ecopath with Ecosim; Mediating effects; Species reintroduction; Trophic cascade effects; Sea otters; Range expansion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:222:y:2011:i:9:p:1569-1579

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.02.008

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