Emergent features due to grid-cell biology: synchronisation in biophysical models

• Published in: Bulletin of mathematical biology Vol. 69; no. 4; pp. 1401 - 1422
• Main Authors: Guirey, E J, Bees, M A, Martin, A P, Srokosz, M A, Fasham, M J R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Biological models (mathematics); Biology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem biology; Ecosystem dynamics; Ecosystem models; Marine; Marine Biology; Models, Biological; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; Ocean models; Oceans and Seas; Oscillators; Plankton; Plankton - growth & development; Synchronism
• ISSN: 0092-8240; 1522-9602
• DOI: 10.1007/s11538-006-9180-y

Modelling studies of upper ocean phenomena, such as that of the spatial and temporal patchiness in plankton distributions, typically employ coupled biophysical models, with biology in each grid-cell represented by a plankton ecosystem model. It has not generally been considered what impact the choice of grid-cell ecosystem model, from the many developed in the literature, might have upon the results of such a study. We use the methods of synchronisation theory, which is concerned with ensembles of interacting oscillators, to address this question, considering the simplest possible case of a chain of identically represented interacting plankton grid-cells. It is shown that the ability of the system to exhibit stably homogeneous (fully synchronised) dynamics depends crucially upon the choice of biological model and number of grid-cells, with dynamics changing dramatically at a threshold strength of mixing between grid-cells. Consequently, for modelling studies of the ocean the resolution chosen, and therefore number of grid-cells used, could drastically alter the emergent features of the model. It is shown that chaotic ecosystem dynamics, in particular, should be used with care.