A static equilibrium model, which uses ecological and metabolic scaling theory to predict mean size composition and abundance of animals (including fish). The model provides a simple size-based characterisation of marine ecosystems. Relies on estimates of predator-prey mass ratios, transfer efficiency and changing metabolic demands with body mass and temperature to predict body mass distributions and abundance of marine consumers from phytoplankton primary production and environmental temperature. The model ignores non-phytoplankton production and animal movement. The model is typically applied at scales from 0.5 degree grids to large marine ecosystems; forced with annual or monthly mean environmental variables. Strengths and weaknesses of this modelling approach are summarised in Jennings and Collingridge (2015) and papers cited therein.
Macroecological (Jennings) is one of the 6 global models following the ISIMIP2a protocol which form the base of simulations for the ISIMIP2a global fisheries & marine ecosystems sector outputs; for a full technical description of the ISIMIP2a Simulation Data from Fisheries & Marine Ecosystems (Fish-MIP; global) Sector, see this DOI link: http://doi.org/10.5880/PIK.2018.005
