Coupling planktonic ecosystem and fisheries food web models for a pelagic ecosystem: Description and validation for the subarctic Pacific

• Main Authors: Kearney, Kelly A., Stock, Charles, Aydin, Kerim, Sarmiento, Jorge L.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 2012
• Subjects: Ecosystem model; North Pacific Ocean; NEMURO; Ecopath with Ecosim; End-to-end model; food web; Environmental Sciences; Pacific; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdeptcommercepub/343; https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/context/usdeptcommercepub/article/1342/viewcontent/Kearney_EM_2012_Coupling_planktonic.pdf

We provide a modeling framework that fully couples a one-dimensional physical mixed layer model, a biogeochemical model, and an upper trophic level fisheries model. For validation purposes, the model has been parameterized for the pelagic Eastern Pacific Subarctic Gyre ecosystem. This paper presents a thorough description of the model itself, as well as an ensemble-based parameterization process that allows the model to incorporate the high level of uncertainty associated with many upper trophic level predator-prey processes. Through a series of model architecture experiments, we demonstrate that the use of a consistent functional response for all predator-prey interactions, as well as the use of densitydependent mortality rates for planktonic functional groups, are important factors in reproducing annual and seasonal observations. We present the results of a 50-year climatological simulation, which demonstrates that under contemporary physical forcing, the model is capable of reproducing long-term seasonal dynamics in primary production and biogeochemical cycling, while maintaining steady-state coexistence of upper trophic level functional groups at levels consistent with observations.