@article{fdi:010064046,
  title = {{E}valuation of the trophic structure of the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf in the 2000s using the ecosystem model {OSMOSE}},
  author = {{G}russ, {A}. and {S}chirripa, {M}. {J}. and {C}hagaris, {D}. and {D}rexler, {M}. and {S}imons, {J}. and {V}erley, {P}hilippe and {S}hin, {Y}unne-{J}ai and {K}arnauskas, {M}. and {O}liveros-{R}amos, {R}. and {A}insworth, {C}. {H}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{W}e applied the individual-based, multi-species {OSMOSE} modeling approach to the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf, with the intent to inform ecosystem-based management ({EBM}) in this region. {O}ur model, referred to as '{OSMOSE}-{WFS}', explicitly considers both pelagic-demersal and benthic high trophic level ({HTL}) groups of fish and invertebrate species, and is forced by the biomass of low trophic level groups of species (plankton and benthos). {W}e present a steady-state version of the {OSMOSE}-{WFS} model describing trophic interactions in the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf in the 2000s. {OSMOSE}-{WFS} was calibrated using a recently developed evolutionary algorithm that allowed simulated biomasses of {HTL} groups to match observed biomasses over the period 2005-2009. {T}he validity of {OSMOSE}-{WFS} was then evaluated by comparing simulated diets to observed ones, and the simulated trophic levels to those in an {E}copath model of the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf ({WFS} {R}eef fish {E}copath). {F}inally, {OSMOSE}-{WFS} was used to explore the trophic structure of the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf in the 2000s and estimate size-specific natural mortality rates for a socio-economically important species, gag grouper ({M}ycteroperca microlepis). {OSMOSE}-{WFS} outputs were in full agreement with observations as to the body size and ecological niche of prey of the different {HTL} groups, and to a lesser extent in agreement with the observed species composition of the diet of {HTL} groups. {OSMOSE}-{WFS} and {WFS} {R}eef fish {E}copath concurred on the magnitude of the instantaneous natural mortality of the different life stages of gag grouper over the period 2005-2009, but not always on the main causes of natural mortality. {T}he model evaluations conducted here provides a strong basis for ongoing work exploring fishing and environmental scenarios so as to inform {EBM}. {F}rom simple size-based predation rules, we were indeed able to capture the complexity of trophic interactions in the {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf, and to identify the predators, prey and competitors of socio-economically important species as well as pivotal prey species of the ecosystem.},
  keywords = {{M}arine ecosystem modeling ; {W}est {F}lorida {S}helf ; {T}rophic structure ; {N}atural mortality ; {R}esource management ; {G}ag grouper ; {ETATS} {UNIS} ; {FLORIDE} ; {GOLFE} {DU} {MEXIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {M}arine {S}ystems},
  volume = {144},
  numero = {},
  pages = {30--47},
  ISSN = {0924-7963},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.11.004},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010064046},
}