Invading species can stabilize simple trophic systems
Kooi, B.W. and Kooijman, S.A.L.M. 2000
Invading species can stabilize simple trophic systems.
Ecol. Mod. 133: 57 - 72
Abstract
Microalgal growth models aim to predict growth rate as well as
cellular composition, given the environmental conditions (such as
temperature, nutrient availability, light, etc.). This generic purpose
poses strong requirements to the structure of any model attempting to
comply with it. First, cellular characteristics should be modelled,
rather than taken as model input. Second, if one interprets cellular
composition as nutrient cell quota, rather than as nutrient ratios,
models should be formulated at the level of the individual
cell. Third, modelling should proceed by making assumptions about
processes, rather than about states. This paper evaluates current
modelling methodology in the light of these desiderata. The models
examined mostly (but not exclusively) monospecific cultures in
laboratory environments. Whereas the older models are inadequate in
view of the generic purpose, recent models increasingly focus on
cellular composition and on the processes that lead to changes in
cellular composition. Models to be developed in the next few years
thus have the potential to fulfil the generic purpose.