Collaborative Research: Agent-Based Modeling and Observation of Intra-Population Variability in Phytoplankton

费迪南湖Hellweger，PINorthousternUniversityCBET-0730239Benjamin S. Twining，PI南卡罗来纳大学CBET-0730061合作研究：基于代理的建模和浮游植物种群内变异的观察该项目的目标是调查和评估基于代理的建模（ABM）方法，用于模拟浮游植物营养成分的种群内变异。养殖水体富营养化是由于过量营养物质输入水体而引起的，是美国和其他国家的一个重要环境问题。水体的营养状态的有效管理需要一个精确的生态地球化学（水质，富营养化）模型。目前的模型使用集总系统建模（LSM）的方法，假设控制体积内的人口的平均属性。对于将浮游植物生长表述为内部营养物浓度的非线性函数的现代生物地球化学模型（例如Droop动力学），这种平均假设可能引入显著的误差。基于代理的建模不做平均属性的假设，可以模拟种群内营养含量的变化。待检验的假设是：（1）种群内营养盐含量的变异性在真实的系统中的浮游植物动态中起着重要作用;（2）考虑种群内营养盐含量的变异性提高了模型的性能;（3）基于代理的模型可以重现所观察到的种群内营养盐含量的变异性。 该模型将在由波士顿查尔斯河的一部分组成的真实的系统上进行测试。这项工作的预期效益包括更好地支持对受过量营养物投入影响的水生系统作出管理决定。 ABM方法还没有被用于探索环境工程研究中的假设。 研究生和本科生将参与研究。 来自代表性不足群体的本科生将参与其中。 将通过短期课程、在线资源、会议和期刊论文传播研究结果。

Ferdinand L. Hellweger, PINortheastern UniversityCBET-0730239Benjamin S. Twining, PIUniversity of South CarolinaCBET-0730061Collaborative Research: Agent-based Modeling and Observations of Intra-Population Variability in PhytoplanktonThe goal of the project is to investigate and evaluate the agent-based modeling (ABM) approach for simulating intra-population variability in nutrient contents for phytoplankton. Cultural eutrophication, which results from inputs of excess nutrients into water bodies, is an important environmental problem in the US and other countries. The effective management of a water body's trophic state requires an accurate biogeochemical (water quality, eutrophication) model. Present models use a lumped-system modeling (LSM) approach that assumes average properties of a population within a control volume. For modern biogeochemical models that formulate phytoplankton growth as a nonlinear function of the internal nutrient concentration (e.g. Droop kinetics), this averaging assumption can introduce a significant error. Agent-based modeling does not make the assumption of average properties and can simulate intra-population variability in nutrient content. The hypotheses to be tested are (1) intrapopulation variability in nutrient content plays an important role in phytoplankton dynamics in a real system; (2) Accounting for the intra-population variability of nutrient content improves model performance; and (3) Agent-based models can reproduce the observed intra-population variability in nutrient contents. The model will be tested on a real system consisting of a portion of the Charles River in Boston. The expected benefits of the work included improved support for making management decisions for aquatic systems affected by excessive nutrient input. The ABM approach has not been used to explore hypotheses in environmental engineering research. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in the research. Undergraduate students from under-represented groups will be involved. Dissemination of the results will occur through short courses, on-line resources, conferences, and journal papers.