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Phytoplankton dynamics: from the behaviour of cells to a transport equation. (English) Zbl 1201.92062

Summary: We present models of the dynamics of phytoplankton aggregates. We start with an individual-based model in which aggregates can grow, divide, join and move randomly. Passing to infinity with the number of individuals, we obtain a model which describes the space-size distribution of aggregates. The density distribution function satisfies a nonlinear transport equation, which contains terms responsible for the growth of phytoplankton aggregates, their fragmentation, coagulation, and diffusion.

MSC:

92D40 Ecology
65C20 Probabilistic models, generic numerical methods in probability and statistics
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