Combining agent-based, trait-based and demographic approaches to model coral-community dynamics

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Ecology
• Ecological Modeling

Background:

• Coral reef ecosystems are complex, making prediction of their dynamics and resilience challenging.
• Existing models often fail to incorporate the high functional diversity of corals, limiting their accuracy.
• Mechanistically detailed models are needed to simulate ecological processes driving coral reef dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel model for coral reef dynamics that accounts for species' functional diversity and processes across spatial scales.
• To calibrate and validate this model using empirical data from Caribbean reefs.
• To provide a platform for exploring diversity-functioning relationships in coral reefs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel ecological model incorporating multi-scale processes and functional diversity.
• Calibration and validation of the model using empirical data from Caribbean coral reefs.
• Global sensitivity analysis to identify key parameters influencing community dynamics.

Main Results:

• The model successfully reproduces realistic community and ecologically plausible population dynamics.
• Sensitivity analysis identified local larval production and interaction-induced growth rate reductions as key drivers.
• The model demonstrates the significant role of functional diversity in benthic-community dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The novel model offers a more accurate simulation of coral reef dynamics by including functional diversity.
• Key parameters influencing reef dynamics were identified, providing insights for management.
• The model serves as a valuable tool for virtual experiments on coral reef ecosystems.