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Size-spectra dynamics from stochastic predation and growth of individuals
Citation
Law, R and Plank, MJ and James, A and Blanchard, JL, Size-spectra dynamics from stochastic predation and growth of individuals, Ecology, 90, (3) pp. 802-811. ISSN 0012-9658 (2009) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2009 Ecological Society of America
Abstract
In aquatic ecosystems, where organisms typically feed and grow by eating
smaller individuals, a characteristic size spectrum emerges, such that large organisms are much
more rare than small ones. Here, a stochastic individual-based model for the dynamics of size
spectra is described, based on birth, growth, and death of individuals, using simple
assumptions about feeding behavior. It is shown that the deterministic limit derived from
the stochastic process is a partial differential equation previously used to describe the
dynamics of size spectra. The equation has two classes of dynamics in the long term. The first
is a steady state. A derivation under simple mass-balance assumptions shows that, at steady
state, the linear size spectrum relating log abundance to log mass has a slope of approximately
1, similar to that often observed in natural size spectra. The second class of dynamics, not
previously described, is a traveling-wave solution in which waves move along the size spectrum
from small to large body size. Traveling waves become more likely when predators prefer prey
much smaller than themselves and when they are specialized in the range of prey body sizes
consumed. Wavelength depends on the size of prey relative to the size of predator, and wave
speed depends on how fast mass moves through the spectrum.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | size spectra, stochastic individual processes |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences |
UTAS Author: | Blanchard, JL (Dr Julia Blanchard) |
ID Code: | 100502 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 79 |
Deposited By: | Sustainable Marine Research Collaboration |
Deposited On: | 2015-05-18 |
Last Modified: | 2015-09-07 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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