Understanding how the collective behaviour of phytoflagellates is affected by light attenuation and diel vertical migration using individual-based modelling.

ABSTRACT

In this article, we investigate the question of the impact of the diel vertical migration (DVM) and the light attenuation by the cells on both spatial pattern and population dynamics of phytoflagellates. For these purposes, we performed a simulation study by using a spatially explicit individual-based model (IBM). The designed IBM includes 2 global mechanisms cellular motion which is modelled through a stochastic differential equation and demographic process that is density and light intensity dependent. We showed that under no-DVM, for competitive environment, increasing the light absorption helps the creation of a strong oscillatory behaviour, that breeds aggregation-break up rhythm, which is beneficial. However, when we pass to DVM regime, it will be more advantageous for the cells to reduce their light absorption. In regards of DVM effect, we showed that it has other benefits, apart from the acquisition of resources, such as enhancing the attraction mechanism that promotes cooperation and also helping the creation of spatial voids that permit the penetration of the light. Also, we showed that the DVM reduces the predation rate, so we prove quantitatively that the DVM reduces, in general, the grazing losses. Also, we found that the DVM strategy depends on the impact of the competition and cooperation between the cells on the division and death rates. So, probably for the motile species, the local competition is not high in order to let the cells gain advantages from the DVM regarding their survivability that is explained by an annual cyclic behaviour under seasonal environment.