Bio-physical Coupling of Predator-prey Interactions
Abstract
LONG-TERM GOAL. Our long term goal is to understand the dynamics of oceanic predator-prey interactions of copepods with feeding currents. Knowledge about the plankton and their oceanic environment will be incorporated into a framework of numerical simulations which includes behavioral aspects and their interactions in conjunction with the other biological processes and physical processes. SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES. Predator-prey interactions and their relative motion cover a wide range of spatial scales. We wish to develop realistic models and simulations that include processes occurring at the relevant scales for a quantitative understanding of the bio-physical coupling in predator-prey interactions. It is fundamental to understand the physics and the fluid mechanics for predator-prey interactions. At these scales, viscous effects are significant and many of the details of the feeding process are determined by the structure and shape of the organisms involved. Since the Reynolds number of the associated flow is small, it is possible to numerically calculate some of these deterministic aspects. These calculations will augment and extend the direct observations, making it possible to identify the fundamental aspects of the morphology and operation of the predators. Our objective is to understand the biological and physical processes involved in feeding in sufficient detail to quantitatively predict predator-prey contact rates. Such quantitative results will shed light on feeding strategies and rates responsible for the thin layers of high biological concentrations and production now being found in many oceanic environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA634770
Entities
People
- Charles Meneveau
- Thomas Osborn
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University