Emergent copepod communities in an adaptive trait-structured model

N.R. Record, A.J. Pershing and F. Maps

Ecological Modelling, 2013, vol. 260, issue C, 11-24

Abstract: Population dynamics for the most dominant copepod species have to some degree a mechanistic underpinning grounded in theory. However, important ecosystem shifts involve whole communities of species. Algorithms adopted from evolutionary computation provide one avenue for understanding community-level properties. We developed a pelagic copepod community model based on ecological tradeoffs in trait space, with a focus on development and growth rates, which determine fundamental properties such as size and generation length. The model is generalized to represent a broad range of possible copepod taxa. We used this framework in an adaptive-computing context to examine the different communities that assemble under different temperature and food regimes across a latitudinal gradient. Emergent communities resembled observed communities in structure and biodiversity, and showed life history strategies with clear analogs to real species.

Keywords: Copepod; Adaptive model; Community model; Trait-structured model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:260:y:2013:i:c:p:11-24

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2013.03.018

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