 Prey-abundance affects zooplankton assimilation efficiency and the outcome of biogeochemical modelsDavid J.S. Montagnes and Andy Fenton Ecological Modelling, 2012, vol. 243, issue C, 1-7 Abstract: Aquatic biogeochemical models that include zooplankton feeding on phytoplankton assess a range of ecologically important issues. Such models generally assume assimilation efficiency (e) to be invariant with prey abundance. We first review the literature and make a strong case for recognising and quantifying the general dependence of e on prey abundance. Then, using two standard, fundamental multi-trophic models (the Rosenzweig–MacArthur, RM, predator–prey couplet and the nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton, NPZ, models) we explore how varying e with prey abundance alters the outcome of models. Incorporating variable e into both models altered their dynamics, potentially in important and counterintuitive directions. We suggest there is now a need for further empirical consideration of the extent to which zooplankton e changes with phytoplankton abundance, specifically focusing on the shape of this response, and then for continued assessment of the impact of variable e on model dynamics. Keywords: Copepod; Foodweb; Marine; NPZ; Plankton; Rosenzweig–MacArthur (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:243:y:2012:i:c:p:1-7 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2012.05.006 Access Statistics for this article Ecological Modelling is currently edited by Brian D. Fath More articles in Ecological Modelling from Elsevier |
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