The design of a spatially explicit stochastic model for the simulation of oceanic seed dispersal

Abstract

We propose a stochastic model for analyzing the influence of the physical environment on oceanic seed dispersal. The model requires a description of the spatial configuration of the region and of the dynamics of the physical processes involved (ocean and atmosphere dynamics). The degree of accuracy and resolution of these descriptions will determine the accuracy of the simulations. Parameters to characterize the species of interest will come from empirical knowledge about the species, via experiments and measurements in the field. Two modeling approaches could be used, a particle model or a density model. We discuss both options and provide some recommendations. The described model could be used to answer questions about the origin of the current spatial distributions of species dispersed by the ocean and to study metapopulation dynamics.