Towards ecosystem modeling in the deep sea: A review of past efforts and primer for the future. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Woodstock, Matthew S.; Zhang, Yuying
• Is Part Of: Deep sea research. Volume 188(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Ecosystem modeling -- Ecopath with ecosim -- OSMOSE -- ATLANTIS -- Deep sea -- Mesopelagic -- Seamount -- Linear inverse modeling -- Food web; Oceanography -- Periodicals; Océanographie -- Périodiques; 551.4605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2022.103851
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0637

Abstract

Abstract: Ecosystem modeling is a popular technique to incorporate the direct and indirect interactions of all ecosystem components within a simulation. However, these models are data-intensive. Relatively data-poor, deep-sea ecosystems (with depths greater than 200 m) have not received the same modeling effort as neritic zones. Nevertheless, deep-sea ecosystems are exposed to many of the same anthropogenic stressors as nearshore systems, suggesting that the development of ecosystem models is pertinent. A literature review was conducted to explore the global deep-sea modeling effort. More than 300 modeling publications were discovered that included the deep-sea as a component, either had a functional group or explicitly mentioned depths greater than 200 m. The annual rate of new publications increased after 2000, most likely because of the advances in modeling capabilities, the growth of ecosystem modeling as a practice, and the availability of new data. Only 39% of the publications mentioned a deep-sea component as a focal point in the model, indicating that although the deep-sea is incorporated in many models, its ecosystem services are not explicitly included. Models developed with the Ecopath with Ecosim framework accounted for 59% of the publications, suggesting that multi-model "ensemble" approaches are lacking, although different frameworks have been applied. Disparity exists among the locations of models where some regions had more than 40 publications (subarctic Atlantic Ocean), while some others had 0 publications. The initial modeling effort in a region generally characterized the trophic structure, while advanced efforts conducted scenarios of ecosystem responses to stressors (e.g., fisheries, climate change, and oil spills). In general, current modeling efforts are hindered by a paucity of life history information for several deep-sea species/functional groups, unavailability of time series, and frameworks that may not properly estimate the energetics and spatial utilization of deep-sea organisms. Due to the high degree of trophic connectivity in oceanic ecosystems, the refinement of deep-sea ecosystem models is necessary to understand and combat the synergistic effects of stressors and enact ecosystem-based resource management efforts. Highlights: Ecosystem models are useful in simulating complex ecosystems with synergistic stressors. A systematic literature review was conducted for all ecosystem models inclusive of the deep sea. 304 publications inclusive of the deep sea were found and the publication rate has increased since 2000. The modeling effort is not uniformly distributed around the globe. Factors limiting model development, efficacy, and implementation in management are discussed.