Nitrogen, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton

Now, add Zooplankton as a component and run the model (click on the "Components" heading if the arrow next to it is pointing down to expand the menu and check the box next to Zooplankton). Click "Run Model" again. How do the results differ?

Phytoplankton are eaten by zooplankton, decreasing the concentrations of phytoplankton back down toward zero, while zooplankton concentrations rise to greater than 300 mg carbon/m3. Zooplankton concentrations decrease based on their mortality rate. (In the absence of detritus, zooplankton turn directly back into nitrogen.)

When zooplankton eat the phytoplankton they graze with “sloppy feeding” and do not assimilate all of the phytoplankton into zooplankton. The remaining phytoplankton turn back into nutrients.

Launch Model