Synopsis
A prey concentration dependent random walk model of feeding behavior in larval anchovy based on behavioral experiments was used in conjunction with an experimentally verified Markov chain prey attack rate model to evaluate the relationship between anchovy larval growth from 0.4 to 2.0 cm at various levels of contagion and temperature in the food prey environment. Contagion was regarded as being described by the negative binomial distribution while the actual prey particle size distribution was taken from actual prey particle surveys in areas where anchovy larvae are found. Other important physiological parameters necessary for the construction of the model are taken from existing literature and a description of the complete computer integration of the various submodels presented. Results demonstrate the extreme importance of food microstructure geometry and behavior in the growth rates and growth curves of the anchovy larvae. In particular extremely nonlinear growth rates as functions of contagion are observed in the model with the highest growth rates not occurring at the highest level of prey contagion. The implications these results have in explaining current paradoxes between laboratory-grown larval anchovy prey concentration requirements and those found in the ocean are discussed. Also, the relationship between physical oceanography and larval survival is discussed in light of the results in addition to the need for a more detailed understanding of food prey microstructure in larval ecology.
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Vlymen, W.J. A mathematical model of the relationship between larval anchovy (Engraulis mordax) growth, prey microdistribution, and larval behavior. Environ Biol Fish 2, 211–233 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005991
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005991