Population dynamics theory of plankton based on biomass spectra

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 159:61-73 (1997) - doi:10.3354/meps159061 Population dynamics theory of plankton based on biomass spectra Meng Zhou*, Mark E. Huntley Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0202, USA *E-mail: mzhou@sjpoole.ucsd.edu Here we construct a fundamental mathematical theory of population dynamics in the context of the normalized spectra of abundance and biomass of plankton. The theory begins with the distribution function of abundance as a function of individual body weight and growth rate, and the law of the conservation of mass. The basic governing equations for population growth and biomass production are then deduced without empirical assumptions. The governing equations represent the fundamental mass balance between the biomass flux from small to large sizes due to individual growth and the sum of sources and sinks such as birth, death and mortality. The slope of the normalized biomass spectrum at steady state is proved to be approximately equal to the ratio of the intrinsic rate of increase in abundance to individual weight-specific growth rate. We demonstrated that measurements of biomass spectra in nature can be used to estimate population-dynamics parameters of individual growth rate and the intrinsic rate of increase. We further apply this population dynamics theory to data collected by an Optical Plankton Counter in the California Current region during June and July, 1993. These data cover a range in the marine biomass spectrum from 100 to 104 µg C individual body weight. Population dynamics · Biomass spectrum · Mathematical theory · Marine plankton · Zooplankton · Individual growth rate · Abundance · Productivity · Model · California Current Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 159. Publication date: November 29, 1997 Print ISSN:0171-8630; Online ISSN:1616-1599 Copyright © 1997 Inter-Research.