Agent-Based Model of Diatom Population Dynamics in Marginal Arctic Seas in Summer

Abstract

A hypothesis is proposed for the functioning of the diatom population under conditions of water column stratification. It is assumed that cells in the upper illuminated water layer accumulate biomass due to photosynthesis. In the lower layer, rich in minerals, the cells replenish their intracellular reserves. Moving from one layer to another allows to cells to compensate for the lack of resources. Sinking occurs as a result of sedimentation, and lifting occurs due to the release of carbon dioxide microbubbles in the process of respiration. On the basis of this hypothesis, an agent model of the population is constructed. The calculations have shown that vertical movements ensure the existence of the population. Various surface illumination make it possible to obtain various distributions of cell numbers in the upper and lower water layers, which is consistent with the data of expeditionary observations.