The ecological basis for simulating phytoplankton responses to environmental change (PROTECH)

Citation
Cs. Reynolds et al., The ecological basis for simulating phytoplankton responses to environmental change (PROTECH), ECOL MODEL, 140(3), 2001, pp. 271-291
Citations number
58
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
ISSN journal
03043800 → ACNP
Volume
140
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
271 - 291
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-3800(20010615)140:3<271:TEBFSP>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
The theory and mathematical development of a model, called PROTECH, are pre sented. The model simulates the dynamic responses of up to eight species of phytoplankton to environmental variability in lakes and reservoirs. PROTEC H models were developed originally to fulfil a commercial, decision-support role in the management of industrial water quality, where plankton growth is an issue. The progressive refinements to the model nevertheless. have a robust ecological basis. This makes PROTECH a promising tool for researchin g plankton community ecology. The model calculates exponents describing gro wth acid attrition, from a base of the maximum growth rates of algal specie s in culture. Subject to defined thresholds, growth integrates variability in the fluxes of light and nutrients. The paper develops this philosophy an d its embodiment into the structure of the model. Examples of its authentic ated, validated and sensitivity-tested outputs are presented. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.