Modeling food web interactions in benthic deep-sea ecosystems: a practical guide
In: Oceanography. Oceanography Society: Washington DC. ISSN 1042-8275, more |   |
| Keywords | Aquatic communities > Benthos
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle
Deep sea
Ecosystems
Energy flow
Food webs
Models > Mathematical models
Sediments
ANE, Porcupine Abyssal Plain [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract | Deep-sea benthic systems are notoriously difficult to sample. Even more than for other benthic systems, manyflows among biological groups cannot be directly measured, and data sets remain incomplete and uncertain. In such cases, mathematical models are often used to quantify unmeasured biological interactions. Here, we show how to use so-called linear inverse models (LIMs) to reconstruct material and energy flows through food webs in which the number of measurements is a fraction of the total number of flows. These models add mass balance, physiological and behavioral constraints, and diet information to the scarce measurements. We explain how these information sources can be included in LIMs, and how the resulting models can be subsequently solved. This method is demonstrated by two examples—a very simple three-compartment food web model, and a simplified benthic carbon food web for Porcupine Abyssal Plain. We conclude by elaborating on recent developments and prospects. |
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