mizer: an R package for multispecies, trait-based and community size spectrum ecological modelling

1. Size spectrum ecological models are conceptually simple representations of a large community of individuals, which grow and change trophic level during their lives. A key feature is the size spectrum, where the total abundance of individuals at size scales negatively with size. Size spectrum models are particularly useful for assessing how fishing on some species or size groups in a community affects the rest of the community. 2. We present mizer, an R package for implementing dynamic size spectrum ecological modelsof an entire community subject to fishing.Multiple fishing gears can be defined and fishing mortality can change through time making it possible to simulate a wide range of different harvesting strategies and management options. 3. mizer implements three versions of the size spectrum modelling framework: The community model,in which individuals are only characterized by their size; the trait-based model, in which individuals are further characterized by their asymptotic size; and the multispecies model in which multiple species with differing species-specific traits are resolved. 4. All three model types are implemented using the same R classes and functions.A wide range of plots, community indicator and summary methods are available to inspect the results.

SCOTT Finlay;  BLANCHARD Julia;  ANDERSEN Ken H.; 

2015-09-30

WILEY-BLACKWELL

JRC89943

2041-210X,   

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.12256/abstract,    jsessionid=BFF14A7469696BA3079866A09237B4CF.f03t04,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC89943,   

10.1111/2041-210X.12256,