Sensitivity of secondary production and export flux to choice of trophic transfer formulation in marine ecosystem models
Sensitivity of secondary production and export flux to choice of trophic transfer formulation in marine ecosystem models
The performance of four contemporary formulations describing trophic transfer, which have strongly contrasting assumptions as regards the way that consumer growth is calculated as a function of food C:N ratio and in the fate of non-limiting substrates, was compared in two settings: a simple steady-state ecosystem model and a 3D biogeochemical general circulation model. Considerable variation was seen in predictions for primary production, transfer to higher trophic levels and export to the ocean interior. The physiological basis of the various assumptions underpinning the chosen formulations is open to question. Assumptions include Liebig-style limitation of growth, strict homeostasis in zooplankton biomass, and whether excess C and N are released by voiding in faecal pellets or via respiration/excretion post-absorption by the gut. Deciding upon the most appropriate means of formulating trophic transfer is not straightforward because, despite advances in ecological stoichiometry, the physiological mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain incompletely understood. Nevertheless, worrying inconsistencies are evident in the way in which fundamental transfer processes are justified and parameterised in the current generation of marine ecosystem models, manifested in the resulting simulations of ocean biogeochemistry. Our work highlights the need for modellers to revisit and appraise the equations and parameter values used to describe trophic transfer in marine ecosystem models.
ecosystem modelling, trophic transfer, stoichiometry, zooplankton
41-53
Anderson, Thomas R.
dfed062f-e747-48d3-b59e-2f5e57a8571d
Hessen, Dag O.
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Mitra, Aditee
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Mayor, Daniel J.
a2a9c29e-ffdc-4858-ad65-3a235824a4c9
Yool, Andrew
882aeb0d-dda0-405e-844c-65b68cce5017
September 2013
Anderson, Thomas R.
dfed062f-e747-48d3-b59e-2f5e57a8571d
Hessen, Dag O.
b6d0c129-f3d6-4256-84dd-4614d4a5869b
Mitra, Aditee
dc7a53f9-8495-422b-94dd-d20ea24c1d40
Mayor, Daniel J.
a2a9c29e-ffdc-4858-ad65-3a235824a4c9
Yool, Andrew
882aeb0d-dda0-405e-844c-65b68cce5017
Anderson, Thomas R., Hessen, Dag O., Mitra, Aditee, Mayor, Daniel J. and Yool, Andrew
(2013)
Sensitivity of secondary production and export flux to choice of trophic transfer formulation in marine ecosystem models.
[in special issue: Advances in Marine Ecosystem Modelling Research III]
Journal of Marine Systems, 125, .
(doi:10.1016/j.jmarsys.2012.09.008).
Abstract
The performance of four contemporary formulations describing trophic transfer, which have strongly contrasting assumptions as regards the way that consumer growth is calculated as a function of food C:N ratio and in the fate of non-limiting substrates, was compared in two settings: a simple steady-state ecosystem model and a 3D biogeochemical general circulation model. Considerable variation was seen in predictions for primary production, transfer to higher trophic levels and export to the ocean interior. The physiological basis of the various assumptions underpinning the chosen formulations is open to question. Assumptions include Liebig-style limitation of growth, strict homeostasis in zooplankton biomass, and whether excess C and N are released by voiding in faecal pellets or via respiration/excretion post-absorption by the gut. Deciding upon the most appropriate means of formulating trophic transfer is not straightforward because, despite advances in ecological stoichiometry, the physiological mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain incompletely understood. Nevertheless, worrying inconsistencies are evident in the way in which fundamental transfer processes are justified and parameterised in the current generation of marine ecosystem models, manifested in the resulting simulations of ocean biogeochemistry. Our work highlights the need for modellers to revisit and appraise the equations and parameter values used to describe trophic transfer in marine ecosystem models.
Text
trophic120810.pdf
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 25 September 2012
Published date: September 2013
Keywords:
ecosystem modelling, trophic transfer, stoichiometry, zooplankton
Organisations:
Marine Systems Modelling
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 356919
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/356919
ISSN: 0924-7963
PURE UUID: 237596e3-91a6-42a3-8190-2e5fb048a0f6
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Date deposited: 17 Sep 2013 10:43
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 14:53
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Contributors
Author:
Thomas R. Anderson
Author:
Dag O. Hessen
Author:
Aditee Mitra
Author:
Daniel J. Mayor
Author:
Andrew Yool
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