Changes between Version 3 and Version 4 of EwEugCapabilitiesAndLimitations


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Timestamp:
2010-11-24 01:15:40 (13 years ago)
Author:
shermanl
Comment:

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  • EwEugCapabilitiesAndLimitations

    v3 v4  
    1010'''Should Ecopath be used even if there is insufficient local information to construct models, or should more sampling go first?''' 
    1111 
    12 It is a fairly common conception that since we do not know enough to make perfect models at the individual or species level there is no way we can have enough information at hand to embark on modelling at the ecosystem level. This may hold if we try to construct models bottom-up – we cannot account for all the actions and processes involving all the individuals of the world. This is, however, not what Ecopath models do. Instead they place piecemeal information in a framework that enables evaluation of the compatibility of the information at hand, gaining insights in the process. Adding to this is that there is much more information of living marine resources available than most will anticipate. The best demonstration of this can be obtained by searching the [http://www.fishbase.org FishBase] database on finfish (Froese and Pauly, 2000, www.fishbase.org) for Ecopath-relevant information using the semi-automated search routine available for this specific purpose at the website. 
     12It is a fairly common conception that since we do not know enough to make perfect models at the individual or species level there is no way we can have enough information at hand to embark on modelling at the ecosystem level. This may hold if we try to construct models bottom-up - we cannot account for all the actions and processes involving all the individuals of the world. This is, however, not what Ecopath models do. Instead they place piecemeal information in a framework that enables evaluation of the compatibility of the information at hand, gaining insights in the process. Adding to this is that there is much more information of living marine resources available than most will anticipate. The best demonstration of this can be obtained by searching the [http://www.fishbase.org FishBase] database on finfish (Froese and Pauly, 2000, www.fishbase.org) for Ecopath-relevant information using the semi-automated search routine available for this specific purpose at the website. 
    1313 
    1414Another aspect is that ecosystem models can help direct research by pinpointing critical information and gaps in the present knowledge. As more information becomes available it is straightforwardly included in the model, improving estimates and reducing uncertainty. 
     
    3434In most EwE applications today, we try very hard to avoid using the Ecopath biomass estimation capability for more biomass components than absolutely necessary. Estimation of biomass with Ecopath usually requires making explicit assumption about the ecotrophic efficiency, i.e., about the proportion of the total mortality rate of a group that we account for by the predation, migration, biomass accumulation and fishing rates included explicitly in the Ecopath data. There is rarely a sound empirical basis for using any particular value of EE, except perhaps for top predators in situations where total mortality rate (Z=P/B) is well estimated and EE represents a 'known' ratio of fishing rate (F) to total Z (and the rest of Z, e.g., the natural mortality (M) is known not to be due to other predators included in the model nor to other factors not considered). 
    3535 
    36 Where biomasses really are unavailable or are known to be biased, e.g., if the only biomass estimates for pelagics are from swept-area analysis based on demersal trawling, it may still be better to use assumed EE's than to stop short of constructing an ecosystem model pending, e.g., funding and development of capabilities to conduct acoustic surveys. In such cases one can assume reasonable EE values for groups where biomasses are missing an example: small pelagics do not die of old age in an exploited ecosystems, most are either eaten or caught, hence EE is likely to be in the range 0.90 to 0.99. As confidence intervals can be assigned to all input parameters and can be estimated for the output parameters using the Ecoranger module of EwE (where a range for acceptable output parameters is also incorporated as part of the model evaluation process), the mass balance constraints of the model can be used to predict potential ranges for biomasses of the system in the system, 
     36Where biomasses really are unavailable or are known to be biased, e.g., if the only biomass estimates for pelagics are from swept-area analysis based on demersal trawling, it may still be better to use assumed EE's than to stop short of constructing an ecosystem model pending, e.g., funding and development of capabilities to conduct acoustic surveys. In such cases one can assume reasonable EE values for groups where biomasses are missing - an example: small pelagics do not die of old age in an exploited ecosystems, most are either eaten or caught, hence EE is likely to be in the range 0.90 to 0.99. As confidence intervals can be assigned to all input parameters and can be estimated for the output parameters using the Ecoranger module of EwE (where a range for acceptable output parameters is also incorporated as part of the model evaluation process), the mass balance constraints of the model can be used to predict potential ranges for biomasses of the system in the system, 
    3737 
    3838'''Should Ecopath mass balance modelling be used only in situations where data are inadequate to use detailed, more traditional methods like MSVPA?''' 
     
    5656The biomass rate equations in Ecosim (sums of consumption rates less predation and fishing rates) can be viewed as 'sums of sums', where each trophic flow rate for an overall biomass pool is the sum of rates that apply to biomass components within that pool. In this view, doing a single overall rate calculation for a pool amounts to assuming that the proportional contributions of the biomass components within the pool remain stable, i.e., the size-age-species composition of the pool remains stable over changes in predicted overall food consumption and predation rates. In fact, the assumption is even weaker: pool composition may indeed change over time provided that high and low rate components change so as to balance one another; or proportional contribution of major components is stable enough so that total rates per overall biomass are not strongly affected. 
    5757 
    58 We know of at least one condition under which the compositional stability assumption may be violated when ratios of juvenile to adult abundance can change greatly, (e.g., under changes in fishing mortality) for a species that has strong trophic ontogeny (very different habitat use and trophic interactions by juveniles). To deal with such situations, Ecosim allows model users to 'split' biomass pools representing single-species with strong trophic ontogeny or size-dependent vulnerability to harvest, into multiple-age stanza groups. For populations represented this way, the Ecosim biomass dynamics equations are replaced with an explicit age structured model for monthly age cohorts in each of the stanzas (animals are lumped into one adult age group after reaching 95% of the asymptotic maximum body weight).  The cohorts in each stanza can have distinctive diet composition and predation risks.  Food search rates and metabolic rates per individual are calculated so as to have the animals Figure growth with a basic von Bertalanffy functional form, but with growth rates varying with food availability.  Recruitment is calculated for each month from total egg production, and egg production per individual is assumed to increase linearly with body size above a size at maturity. 
     58We know of at least one condition under which the compositional stability assumption may be violated - when ratios of juvenile to adult abundance can change greatly, (e.g., under changes in fishing mortality) for a species that has strong trophic ontogeny (very different habitat use and trophic interactions by juveniles). To deal with such situations, Ecosim allows model users to 'split' biomass pools representing single-species with strong trophic ontogeny or size-dependent vulnerability to harvest, into multiple-age stanza groups. For populations represented this way, the Ecosim biomass dynamics equations are replaced with an explicit age structured model for monthly age cohorts in each of the stanzas (animals are lumped into one adult age group after reaching 95% of the asymptotic maximum body weight).  The cohorts in each stanza can have distinctive diet composition and predation risks.  Food search rates and metabolic rates per individual are calculated so as to have the animals Figure growth with a basic von Bertalanffy functional form, but with growth rates varying with food availability.  Recruitment is calculated for each month from total egg production, and egg production per individual is assumed to increase linearly with body size above a size at maturity. 
    5959 
    6060Thus, for multi-stanza species Ecosim replaces the biomass dynamics model with a much more detailed and realistic population model, (see [[Representation of multi stanza.htm|Representation of multi stanza life histories]]). This allows Ecosim users to not only represent compositional effects, but also to examine the emergent stock-recruitment relationship caused by density-dependent changes in adult fecundity and juvenile growth and foraging time behaviour.