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Individual‐based modeling explains the contrasted seasonality in size, growth, and reproduction of the sympatric Arctic ( Thysanoessa raschii ) and Nordic krill ( Meganyctiphanes norvegica ) in the St. Lawrence Estuary, eastern Canada
Author(s) -
Benkort D.,
Plourde S.,
Winkler G.,
Cabrol J.,
Ollier A.,
Cope L.E.,
Maps F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.1002/lno.11032
Subject(s) - krill , pelagic zone , euphausiacea , biology , phytoplankton , ecology , food web , oceanography , population , zooplankton , euphausia , predation , demography , sociology , nutrient , geology
The Nordic krill Meganyctiphanes norvegica and Arctic krill Thysanoessa raschii both dominate the krill community within the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence system where they are central forage species for its pelagic ecosystem. We developed a species‐specific physiological individual based model that implements the critical physiological processes of growth, molting, and reproduction of female adults as responses to environmental forcing. Key innovations of our approach were the decoupling between the molting schedule and growth, as well as considering two distinct sources of prey (phytoplankton and mesozooplankton). Our simulation results revealed that the details of the feeding process were critical for an accurate representation of the production dynamics of adult individuals from both species. Their specific feeding preferences on phytoplankton and mesozooplankton resulted in distinct species‐specific phenological patterns that reproduced observations. The present study highlights the importance of detailed knowledge of diet and feeding behavior of krill species to improve our understanding of population responses in a rapidly changing environment.