applying deb theory to marsupilami growth for educational...

Applying DEB theory to Marsupilami growth for educational purposes

Applying DEB theory to Marsupilami growth foreducational purposes

DEB2011 Symposium2nd International Symposium on Dynamic Energy Budget Theory

Jonathan FLYE-SAINTE-MARIE1, Eric RANNOU2, PascalRIVIERE1, Philippe PONDAVEN1, Fred JEAN1

1 LEMAR, IUEM, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.2 Laboratoire de Mathematiques, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France.

3th–15th, 2011, Lisbon1/15


The course “Mathematicals tools for biologists”

Context and objectives

Context

University of Brest :

Multidisciplinary university (humanities and sciences)Well known institute in marine sciences

Curriculum of the Bachelor in BiologyCourses in zoology, botanics, ecologyCell biology, physiology, genetics. . .Chemistry, biochemistry. . .But, little mathematics (only few statistics)

Master in marine biology and ecology

2/15




The course “Mathematical tools for biologists” (60h)

Objectives :

Demystify the use of mathematics in biology

Apply maths to concrete biological problems

Prepare students to graduates courses including modelling inbiology and ecology

Taught topics :

Functions in biology

Dynamic systems in biology

Basis of bioenergetic modelling

Basis of programming (Octave/Matlab)

3/15





Objectives :




Taught topics :





Hey biologists ! When you were a bachelor would you havechosen such a course ?

3/15





Objectives :




Taught topics :





Hey biologists ! When you were a bachelor would you havechosen such a course ?In Brest more that 10% did ! (9 out of 79)

3/15



The staff

Staff involved in the course

Fred JEAN, Philippe PONDAVEN, Jonathan FLYE-SAINTE-MARIELaboratoire des science de l’environnement marin (LEMAR)Marine biologists/ecologists (bivalves, phytoplankton, zooplankton)

Eric RANNOULaboratoire de MathematiquesMathematician (application to geology, electronics, biology)

Pascal RIVIERELaboratoire des science de l’environnement marin (LEMAR)Physicist (modelling physics and biology coupling in oceans)

4/15


Studied species and its biology

The species

The studied species : the marsupilami

Marsupilami franquini (max. length :1.3m)

5/15



Its biotope

Characteristics of its biotope

Endemic species from Palombian forest

At the region of origin of this species temperature is constant⇒ during evolution this specie lost homeothermy ; ectotherm

6/15



Its biotope

Characteristics of its biotope

Endemic species from Palombian forest

At the region of origin of this species temperature is constant⇒ during evolution this specie lost homeothermy ; ectotherm

Variations in temperature and over its geographical range

Effect of temperature on metabolism

6/15



Its biology

Nutrition : preys

Preferred prey : the Metynnis (fam. Characidae)

metynnis piranha

Metynnis : herbivorous

Piranha (Serrasalmus) : carnivorous

7/15



Its biology

Nutrition : catching preys

8/15



Its biology

Nutrition : catching preys

The fishing surface is related to tail length (to the power 2)

8/15



Its biology

Relation between tail length and body length

Marsupilami is isomorphicIts fishing rate can be related to body surface area

9/15



Its biology

Nutrition : ingestion

The time to bring back the prey to the mouth is long (long tail)

10/15



Its biology

Nutrition : ingestion

The time to bring back the prey to the mouth is long (long tail)

Functional response to food

10/15



Its reproduction

Reproduction

The male builds a nest

3 eggs of 5cm long every 3 years

11/15



Its reproduction

Reproduction

The male builds a nest

3 eggs of 5cm long every 3 years

Energy invested in reproduction can be neglected

11/15



Studied stations

Map of the studied stations

12/15



Studied stations

Map of the studied stations

Data sets were generated using a DEB model for each station12/15


Student’s work

Student’s work

Students exercises :

Analysis of the data

Reflexion about the influence of food and temperature on growth

Conceptualization of a simple growth model (DEB-like, withoutreserves and reproduction)

Programming the model

Estimate parameters of the model

Coupling this model to a simple Nutrient/Algae/Methynnisecological model

13/15


Outcome

Was the course successful ?

From the teachers point of view :

All of us had fun !

Students made rapid strides

They obviously learned new skills

14/15


Outcome

Was the course successful ?

From the teachers point of view :

All of us had fun !

Students made rapid strides

They obviously learned new skills

From the students points of view(anonymous feedback questionnaire) :

50% think they won’t use this knowledge

22% wish to learn more about maths applied to biology

hard time with programming (100%)

they suffered (100%), but they did like it (78%) !

14/15


THANK YOU !

15/15

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