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Phytoplankton Temporal Strategies Increase Entropy Production in a Marine Food Web Model
Joseph J Vallino1, Ioannis Tsakalakis1,2
1Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 8, 2020
Summary
Biological systems maximize entropy production using temporal strategies. A circadian clock strategy enhances entropy more than passive or balanced growth, optimizing marine food webs for energy dissipation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Theoretical Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Biological systems evolve to dissipate energy and increase entropy.
- Temporal strategies are crucial for optimizing energy dissipation over ecological timescales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a trait-based model for predicting entropy production in ecological systems.
- To investigate the role of temporal strategies in enhancing entropy production within a marine food web.
Main Methods:
- A trait-based model was developed based on maximizing entropy production.
- A marine food web model (phytoplankton, bacteria, consumers) was simulated in a shallow pond ecosystem.
- Temporal strategies including circadian clocks, passive storage, and balanced growth were compared.
Main Results:
- Explicit circadian clock strategies significantly increased entropy production compared to passive or balanced growth strategies.
- At high growth rates, the model selected for complementary phytoplankton ecotypes for seasonal adaptation to maximize entropy.
- Trait values were determined by maximizing entropy production, a novel approach in trait-based modeling.
Conclusions:
- Temporal strategies, particularly circadian clocks, are vital for maximizing entropy production in biological systems.
- Trait-based modeling can be advanced by optimizing traits for entropy production.
- This approach provides insights into the evolution and organization of ecological communities.
Keywords:
biogeochemistrycircadian rhythmfood web modelmaximum entropy productiontemporal strategytrait-based modelingMore Related Videos
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