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Dining in danger: Resolving adaptive fish behavior increases realism of modeled ecosystem dynamics
Nicolas A Schnedler-Meyer1, Tobias K Andersen1,2
1National Institute for Aquatic Resources Technical University of Denmark Lyngby Denmark.
Ecology and Evolution
|August 8, 2024
Summary
Adaptive fish behavior, modeled using optimal feeding strategies, stabilizes aquatic food webs. Incorporating this behavior enhances ecosystem model realism and response to environmental changes like nutrient enrichment.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic ecology
- Theoretical ecology
- Ecosystem modeling
Background:
- Higher trophic level animals significantly impact ecosystem dynamics through behavioral responses.
- The influence of adaptive behavior on aquatic ecosystems is underrepresented in current model studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how adaptive fish behavior influences aquatic ecosystem dynamics.
- To integrate a fish behavioral model into a comprehensive aquatic ecosystem model.
Main Methods:
- Framed fish behavior around the feeding-predation trade-off to determine optimal feeding levels.
- Embedded an optimality-based behavioral model within the Water Ecosystems Tool (WET) model.
- Analyzed the stabilizing effects of adaptive behavior on food web dynamics and ecosystem responses.
Main Results:
- The model predicted an emergent functional response similar to Holling type III, with enhanced dynamics.
- Adaptive fish behavior demonstrated a stabilizing effect on food web dynamics compared to models without optimal behavior.
- Inclusion of fish behavior improved the model's realistic response to nutrient enrichment.
Conclusions:
- Optimal behavior principles provide a robust framework for complex ecosystem models, enhancing stability and descriptive power.
- Adaptive behavior significantly structures aquatic food webs and influences trophic control.
- Mechanistic, behavior-based modeling approaches can improve the realism and utility of aquatic ecological models.
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