A size-structured matrix model to simulate dynamics of marine community size spectrum.

ABSTRACT: Several types of size-based models have been developed to model the size spectra of marine communities, in which abundance scales strongly with body size, using continuous differential equations. In this study, we develop a size-structured matrix model, which can be seen as a discretization of the Mckendrick-von Foerster equation, to simulate the dynamics of marine communities. The developed model uses a series of simple body size power functions to describe the basic processes of predator-prey interactions, reproduction, metabolism, and non-predation mortality based on the principle of mass balance. Linear size spectra with slopes of approximately -1 are successfully reproduced by this model. Several examples of numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the model's behavior. Size

SUBMITTER: Xia S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5991710 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature