Production efficiency differences among populations can be explained by physiology
Production efficiency may differ considerably among individuals and populations. Here we theoretically analyze to what extent differences in efficiency among populations relate to basic physiological processes. We derive characteristics for a stationary population of constant size using (1) an extended Bertalanffy growth equation and (2) Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory to describe individual energetics and mortality combined with an additional thinning rule to provide a more realistic description of survival than the one usually made by only assuming constant background mortality. The production-assimilation ratio as predicted by DEB theory appeared to be strongly correlated with the Bertalanffy growth coefficient and the ultimate reproduction rate. Birds and to a lesser extent mammals have a much lower ratio than other taxa. Benthic marine invertebrate grazers, which are mainly molluscs, showed a higher ratio than pelagic grazers, mostly arthropods, which may have consequences for overall ecological efficiency when marine coastal systems get more dominated by the benthic compartment as a result of human impacts such as the construction of windfarms.
Main Authors: | van der Meer, Jaap, Yeuw, Tan Tjui, van de Wolfshaar, Karen |
---|---|
Format: | Article/Letter to editor biblioteca |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory, Ecological efficiency, Reproduction, Somatic growth, |
Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/production-efficiency-differences-among-populations-can-be-explai |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Production efficiency differences between poikilotherms and homeotherms have little to do with metabolic rate
by: van der Meer, Jaap -
Predicting post-natal energy intake of lesser black-backed gull chicks by Dynamic Energy Budget modeling
by: van der Meer, Jaap, et al. -
Exploring aquaculture related traits of the grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus) in relation to other bivalve species using Dynamic Energy Budget theory
by: Lanjouw, Merel, et al. -
An energetic approach to the study of life-history traits of two modular colonial benthic invertebrates
by: Coma, Rafael, et al.
Published: (1998-02) -
How relevant are temperature corrections of toxicity parameters in population models for environmental risk assessment of chemicals?
by: Mangold-Döring, Annika, et al.