Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget.
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 wi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2018-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5875804?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1819098899572326400 |
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| author | Merel Goedegebuure Jessica Melbourne-Thomas Stuart P Corney Clive R McMahon Mark A Hindell |
| author_facet | Merel Goedegebuure Jessica Melbourne-Thomas Stuart P Corney Clive R McMahon Mark A Hindell |
| author_sort | Merel Goedegebuure |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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, fecundity and (yearling) survival). We evaluated the model's ability to represent a stable population over long time periods (>10 generations), including the sensitivity of the emergent properties to variations in key parameters. Analyses indicated that the model is sensitive to changes in resource availability and energy requirements for the transition from pup to juvenile, and juvenile to adult stage. This was particularly the case for breeding success and yearling survival. This model is suitable for use as a standalone tool for investigating the impacts of changes to behaviour and population responses of southern elephant seals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:38:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3037da837203493b9cc346e3f7a065f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:38:19Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3037da837203493b9cc346e3f7a065f32022-12-21T18:44:45ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-01133e019495010.1371/journal.pone.0194950Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget.Merel GoedegebuureJessica Melbourne-ThomasStuart P CorneyClive R McMahonMark A HindellHigher 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, fecundity and (yearling) survival). We evaluated the model's ability to represent a stable population over long time periods (>10 generations), including the sensitivity of the emergent properties to variations in key parameters. Analyses indicated that the model is sensitive to changes in resource availability and energy requirements for the transition from pup to juvenile, and juvenile to adult stage. This was particularly the case for breeding success and yearling survival. This model is suitable for use as a standalone tool for investigating the impacts of changes to behaviour and population responses of southern elephant seals.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5875804?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Merel Goedegebuure Jessica Melbourne-Thomas Stuart P Corney Clive R McMahon Mark A Hindell Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. PLoS ONE |
| title | Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. |
| title_full | Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. |
| title_fullStr | Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. |
| title_short | Modelling southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina using an individual-based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget. |
| title_sort | modelling southern elephant seals mirounga leonina using an individual based model coupled with a dynamic energy budget |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5875804?pdf=render |
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