The Construction of the Epibenthic Submodel

Abstract

The epibenthic submodel is a relatively small one, containing only two state variables. Each state variable consists of a potpourri of organisms and is not representative for any one particular species. The reason the epibenthos has been thought worthy of a separate submodel is because it neither fits in the benthic, nor in the pelagic system. It is a link between both submodels, eating mainly from the benthic system and migrating through the pelagic system, according to the state of abiotic factors such as salinity, water temperature and oxygen saturation.