Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget.

ABSTRACT: Higher trophic-level species are an integral component of any marine ecosystem. Despite their importance, methods for representing these species in end-to-end ecosystem models often have limited representation of life histories, energetics and behaviour. We built an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget for female southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina to demonstrate a method for detailed representation of marine mammals. We aimed to develop a model which could i) simulate energy use and life histories, as well as breeding traits of southern elephant seals in an emergent manner, ii) project a stable population over time, and iii) have realistic population dynamics and structure based on emergent life history features (such as age at first breeding, lifespan, fecundi

SUBMITTER: Goedegebuure M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5875804 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature