An agent‐based model accurately predicts larval dispersal and identifies restoration and monitoring priorities for eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) in a Southwest Florida estuary

Abstract

An agent-based modeling (ABM) framework was developed to support oyster reef restoration efforts in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary located within the encompassing Charlotte Harbor estuarine system, Southwest Florida. The modeling approach is novel for this shallow estuary which experiences heavily managed freshwater inflow known to be an ecological stressor to the estuary's oysters. The aims of the study were to (1) determine the ABM's accuracy in simulating larval dispersal patterns when compared with measured in situ larval settlement data; (2) establish connectivity patterns between various oyster reefs within the estuary; and (3) discover larval transport pathways within the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system. Key characteristics of the ABM, in particular the agents serving as simulated larvae, include settlement behavior and salinity tolerance and associated mortality. The ABM accurately recreated larval dispersal patterns during the peak spawning season, providing fundamental insight into the importance of protecting the furthest upstream oyster reef as a sustained larval source to the downstream reefs. Thus, supporting the effectiveness of using field measurements for the validation of ABMs and subsequently using ABM simulations to bolster future field studies. Ultimately, this study provides an effective, generally applicable, approach to model larval ecology for restoration purposes.

Oyster Reef Surfaces in the Central Wadden Sea: Intra-Reef Classification and Comprehensive Statistical Description

“…Several numerical studies of oyster reefs on macro-and meso-scale have focused mostly on larval dispersal patterns distribution (e.g., Kjelland et al, 2015;Arnold et al, 2017;Dye et al, 2021) while the influence of the rough surfaces on the surrounding hydrodynamics have not been subject of investigation. Here, the structural classification provided and the respective topographical roughness parameters can be used as input parameters for future investigations addressing the impact on the hydrodynamic and sediment transport similar to investigations by van Leeuwen et al (2010) on mussel beds or by Ashall et al (2016) on salt marshes.…”

The possibilities of the application of agent-based models in environmental engineering hydraulics

“…Ovaj princip u obzir uzima jednu modelsku česticu koja predstavlja veći broj jedinki čiji su obrasci ponašanja sadržani upravo u matematičkoj formulaciji superjedinke [15]. U recentnim je radovima [16], [17], [18] pronos spomenutih mikroorganizama češće promatran prema principu pasivnih Lagrangeovih čestica, odnosno modelskih čestica čije je gibanje isključivo inducirano okolnim poljem strujanja fluida uz mogućnost vlastitoga tonjenja. Dakako, postoje istraživanja gdje je gibanje fitoplanktona promatran kroz princip aktivnih Lagrangeovih čestica, tj.…”