IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v220y2009i3p351-369.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Response of balanced network models to large-scale perturbation: Implications for evaluating the role of small pelagics in the Gulf of Maine

Author

Listed:
  • Link, Jason
  • Col, Laurel
  • Guida, Vincent
  • Dow, David
  • O’Reilly, John
  • Green, Jack
  • Overholtz, William
  • Palka, Debra
  • Legault, Chris
  • Vitaliano, Joseph
  • Griswold, Carolyn
  • Fogarty, Michael
  • Friedland, Kevin

Abstract

Exploring the response of an ecosystem, and subsequent tradeoffs among its biological community, to human perturbations remains a key challenge for the implementation of an ecosystem approaches to fisheries (EAF). To address this and related issues, we developed two network (or energy budget) models, Ecopath and Econetwrk, for the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. These models included 31 network “nodes” or biomass state variables across a broad range of trophic levels, with the present emphasis to particularly elucidate the role of small pelagics. After initial network balancing, various perturbation scenarios were evaluated to explore how potential changes to different fish, fisheries and lower trophic levels can affect model outputs. Categorically across all scenarios and interpretations thereof, there was minimal change at the second trophic levels and most of the “rebalancing” after a perturbation occurred via alteration of the diet matrix. Yet the model results from perturbations to a balanced energy budget fall into one of three categories. First, some model results were intuitive and in obvious agreement with established ecological and fishing theory. Second, some model results were counter-intuitive upon initial observation, seemingly contradictory to known ecological and fishing theory; but upon further examination the results were explainable given the constraints of an equilibrium energy budget. Finally, some results were counter-intuitive and difficult to reconcile with theory or further examination of equilibrium constraints. A detailed accounting of biomass flows for example scenarios explores some of the non-intuitive results more rigorously. Collectively these results imply a need to carefully track biomass flows and results of any given perturbation and to critically evaluate the conditions under which a new equilibrium is obtained for these types of models, which has implications for dynamic simulations based off of them. Given these caveats, the role of small pelagics as a prominent component of this ecosystem remains a robust conclusion. We discuss how one might use this approach in the context of further developing an EAF, recognizing that a more holistic, integrated perspective will be required as we continue to evaluate tradeoffs among marine biological communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Link, Jason & Col, Laurel & Guida, Vincent & Dow, David & O’Reilly, John & Green, Jack & Overholtz, William & Palka, Debra & Legault, Chris & Vitaliano, Joseph & Griswold, Carolyn & Fogarty, Michael &, 2009. "Response of balanced network models to large-scale perturbation: Implications for evaluating the role of small pelagics in the Gulf of Maine," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(3), pages 351-369.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:3:p:351-369
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.10.009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380008004973
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.10.009?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Savenkoff, C. & Swain, D.P. & Hanson, J.M. & Castonguay, M. & Hammill, M.O. & Bourdages, H. & Morissette, L. & Chabot, D., 2007. "Effects of fishing and predation in a heavily exploited ecosystem: Comparing periods before and after the collapse of groundfish in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada)," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 204(1), pages 115-128.
    2. Dame, James K. & Christian, Robert R., 2008. "Evaluation of ecological network analysis: Validation of output," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 210(3), pages 327-338.
    3. Werner, Francisco E. & Ito, Shin-Ichi & Megrey, Bernard A. & Kishi, Michio J., 2007. "Synthesis of the NEMURO model studies and future directions of marine ecosystem modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 202(1), pages 211-223.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Byron, Carrie & Link, Jason & Costa-Pierce, Barry & Bengtson, David, 2011. "Calculating ecological carrying capacity of shellfish aquaculture using mass-balance modeling: Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(10), pages 1743-1755.
    2. Han, Dongyan & Chen, Yong & Zhang, Chongliang & Ren, Yiping & Xue, Ying & Wan, Rong, 2017. "Evaluating impacts of intensive shellfish aquaculture on a semi-closed marine ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 359(C), pages 193-200.
    3. Link, Jason S., 2010. "Adding rigor to ecological network models by evaluating a set of pre-balance diagnostics: A plea for PREBAL," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(12), pages 1580-1591.
    4. Schaubroeck, Thomas & Staelens, Jeroen & Verheyen, Kris & Muys, Bart & Dewulf, Jo, 2012. "Improved ecological network analysis for environmental sustainability assessment; a case study on a forest ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 144-156.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Milessi, Andrés C. & Danilo, Calliari & Laura, Rodríguez-Graña & Daniel, Conde & Javier, Sellanes & Rodríguez-Gallego, Lorena, 2010. "Trophic mass-balance model of a subtropical coastal lagoon, including a comparison with a stable isotope analysis of the food-web," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(24), pages 2859-2869.
    2. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    3. Brigolin, D. & Savenkoff, C. & Zucchetta, M. & Pranovi, F. & Franzoi, P. & Torricelli, P. & Pastres, R., 2011. "An inverse model for the analysis of the Venice lagoon food web," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2404-2413.
    4. Gao, Yan & Liu, Gengyuan & Casazza, Marco & Hao, Yan & Zhang, Yan & Giannetti, Biagio F., 2018. "Economy-pollution nexus model of cities at river basin scale based on multi-agent simulation: A conceptual framework," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 379(C), pages 22-38.
    5. Borrett, S.R. & Freeze, M.A. & Salas, A.K., 2011. "Equivalence of the realized input and output oriented indirect effects metrics in Ecological Network Analysis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(13), pages 2142-2148.
    6. Deehr, Rebecca A. & Luczkovich, Joseph J. & Hart, Kevin J. & Clough, Lisa M. & Johnson, Beverly J. & Johnson, Jeffrey C., 2014. "Using stable isotope analysis to validate effective trophic levels from Ecopath models of areas closed and open to shrimp trawling in Core Sound, NC, USA," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 282(C), pages 1-17.
    7. Kearney, Kelly A. & Stock, Charles & Aydin, Kerim & Sarmiento, Jorge L., 2012. "Coupling planktonic ecosystem and fisheries food web models for a pelagic ecosystem: Description and validation for the subarctic Pacific," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 237, pages 43-62.
    8. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2015. "Ecological network analysis of an industrial symbiosis system: A case study of the Shandong Lubei eco-industrial park," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 174-184.
    9. Kishi, Michio J. & Kashiwai, Makoto & Ware, Daniel M. & Megrey, Bernard A. & Eslinger, David L. & Werner, Francisco E. & Noguchi-Aita, Maki & Azumaya, Tomonori & Fujii, Masahiko & Hashimoto, Shinji & , 2007. "NEMURO—a lower trophic level model for the North Pacific marine ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 202(1), pages 12-25.
    10. Zhu, Xueting & Mu, Xianzhong & Hu, Guangwen, 2019. "Ecological network analysis of urban energy metabolic system—A case study of Beijing," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 404(C), pages 36-45.
    11. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.
    12. Libralato, Simone & Solidoro, Cosimo, 2009. "Bridging biogeochemical and food web models for an End-to-End representation of marine ecosystem dynamics: The Venice lagoon case study," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(21), pages 2960-2971.
    13. Christian, Robert R. & Brinson, Mark M. & Dame, James K. & Johnson, Galen & Peterson, Charles H. & Baird, Daniel, 2009. "Ecological network analyses and their use for establishing reference domain in functional assessment of an estuary," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(22), pages 3113-3122.
    14. Castellani, Marco & Rosland, Rune & Urtizberea, Agurtzane & Fiksen, Øyvind, 2013. "A mass-balanced pelagic ecosystem model with size-structured behaviourally adaptive zooplankton and fish," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 54-63.
    15. Zhang, Yan & Lu, Hanjing & Fath, Brian D. & Zheng, Hongmei, 2016. "Modelling urban nitrogen metabolic processes based on ecological network analysis: A case of study in Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 337(C), pages 29-38.
    16. Du, Jianguo & Cheung, William W.L. & Zheng, Xinqing & Chen, Bin & Liao, Jianji & Hu, Wenjia, 2015. "Comparing trophic structure of a subtropical bay as estimated from mass-balance food web model and stable isotope analysis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 312(C), pages 175-181.
    17. Chuang Tu & Xianzhong Mu & Yufeng Wu & Yifan Gu & Guangwen Hu, 2022. "Heterogenous impacts of components in urban energy metabolism: evidences from gravity model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 10089-10117, August.
    18. Borrett, S.R. & Salas, A.K., 2010. "Evidence for resource homogenization in 50 trophic ecosystem networks," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(13), pages 1710-1716.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:3:p:351-369. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.