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Modelling a two-species interaction in a high intertidal algal community Grabovac, Nickolas
Abstract
This study is an approach to simulating the population dynamics and species interactions in an intertidal algal community. The community being modelled is located in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island and consists of three dominant perennial macroalgae, Mazzaella cornucopiae, Fucus gardneri, and Pelvetiopsis limitata, as well as some ephemeral algae and invertebrates such as barnacles and limpets. Interactions between the two species Mazzaella and Fucus were simulated in order to predict their population dynamics over a two-year period. The empirical basis for the simulation models was provided by the field experiments and observations of previous researchers. In total, eight different models were created, six of them being cellular automata (CA) models and the remaining two being birth-death difference equation models. These models were tested and validated using an independent set of field data. In general, all of the models were. very poor predictors of Fucus density. Two of the models were excellent predictors of Mazzaella percent cover: a stochastic nonseasonal CA model and & Mazzaella birth-death model. The study suggests that simple, few-species models are able to predict the. dynamics of some species, even when such species interact with many other species in the community. In addition, this study serves as an example of how many of the problems associated with constructing mathematical models of ecological systems, especially CA models, can be overcome and how a greater understanding of the system of interest can be gleaned from their results.
Item Metadata
Title |
Modelling a two-species interaction in a high intertidal algal community
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1997
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Description |
This study is an approach to simulating the population dynamics and species
interactions in an intertidal algal community. The community being modelled is located in
Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island and consists of three dominant perennial macroalgae,
Mazzaella cornucopiae, Fucus gardneri, and Pelvetiopsis limitata, as well as some
ephemeral algae and invertebrates such as barnacles and limpets. Interactions between the
two species Mazzaella and Fucus were simulated in order to predict their population
dynamics over a two-year period. The empirical basis for the simulation models was
provided by the field experiments and observations of previous researchers. In total, eight
different models were created, six of them being cellular automata (CA) models and the
remaining two being birth-death difference equation models. These models were tested
and validated using an independent set of field data. In general, all of the models were.
very poor predictors of Fucus density. Two of the models were excellent predictors of
Mazzaella percent cover: a stochastic nonseasonal CA model and & Mazzaella birth-death
model. The study suggests that simple, few-species models are able to predict the.
dynamics of some species, even when such species interact with many other species in the
community. In addition, this study serves as an example of how many of the problems
associated with constructing mathematical models of ecological systems, especially CA
models, can be overcome and how a greater understanding of the system of interest can be
gleaned from their results.
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Extent |
5686061 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-03-23
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0087919
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1997-11
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.