Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

SS15 Biomechanics: Making the Connection Between Physics and Biology at the Organismal Level (Disciplinary Connections)

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2001, Time: 3:45:00 PM

Location: Mesilla

Baird, M, E, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia, mark.baird@cbr.clw.csiro.au

A GENERIC MODEL OF AQUATIC AUTOTROPH GROWTH

A generic model of the growth of aquatic autotrophs is developed. The model considers growth to be the interaction of the maximum growth rate of the autotroph, the maximum supply rate of nutrients (determined by diffusion and convection through the boundary layer surrounding the autotroph), and the maximum supply rate of light (determined from the incident light multiplied by the absorption cross-section of the autotroph). The advantage of such a growth model is that the parameters used to describe autotroph growth limitation are geometric (as opposed to using half-saturation constants). All biochemical constraints on growth are assumed to be parameterized by the maximum growth rate of the autotroph alone. The growth model forms part of an ecosystem scale model (containing phytoplankton cells, macroalgae, seagrass and microphytobenthos) developed for application to Australia's 945 estuaries, where field data is sparse. To test the generic model it is was applied to algal cells from two Texan lakes. The generic model provided a better prediction of in-situ growth rate than an empirically-fitted Monod-type growth model.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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