Model outputs (lines) versus experimental data (points) used for parameter estimation.

<p>Modelled filtration, ingestion and assimilation rates versus data from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Lombard3" target="_blank">[35]</a> (a); modelled faecal pellet rate production versus data from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Selander1" target="_blank">[29]</a> (b); modelled assimilation efficiency versus data from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Lombard3" target="_blank">[35]</a> (c); modelled ingestion efficiency data from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Acua1" target="_blank">[27]</a> (d).</p

Comparison of the maximum food intake for ingestion.

<p>Comparison of the maximum food intake for ingestion between experimental data and model outputs. weights are obtained using the trunk length to total body length equation from Acuña <i>et al.</i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Acua1" target="_blank">[27]</a> and the body length to carbon weight equation from Lombard <i>et al.</i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Lombard3" target="_blank">[35]</a>. For Selander <i>et al.</i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Selander1" target="_blank">[29]</a>, the measured value is obtained from the measured value of 14,065 and converted using a carbon weight per cell of 8 .</p

Model parameters.

<p>Model parameters.</p

Fluxes and state variables dynamics during simulation with an alimentary interruption occurring at half of the house lifespan (1.44 h).

<p>Rates of filtration (F), ingestion (I) and assimilation (A) in (a); carbon mass of the house contents (HOU) and carbon mass of the gut contents (GUT)(b) in . Run performed at a temperature of 15°C and an initial food concentration of 100 over four house cycles for an individual organism of 1 .</p

Average time required to empty a compartment as function of the environmental food concentration (from 0 to 400 ).

<p>Average times required to empty the gut (a) and the house (b). For each food concentration value, the resulting average emptying time is the average emptying time for simulations during which alimentary interruptions occurred at different moments of a house lifespan.</p

The time required to empty a compartment as function of the moment when alimentary interruption starts during the house lifetime.

<p>Times required to empty the gut (a) and the house (b). Simulations with an initial food concentration of 100 and a temperature of 15°C, and during which alimentary interruptions occurred at different moments of a house lifespan.</p

Modelled GPT <i>vs.</i> calculated GPT as function of the environmental food concentration (from 0 to 400 ).

<p>Non-standardised values (a); standardised values (b). The calculated GPT is from López-Urrutia <i>et al. </i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-LpezUrrutia1" target="_blank">[13]</a>. The standardised modelled and calculated GPT are computed by subtracting the overall mean from each GPT value and dividing the result by the overall standard deviation.</p

Conceptual schema of the model.

<p>Forcing variables are represented by round boxes, state variables by rectangular boxes and diagnostic variables by triangular boxes. Solid arrows represent continuous fluxes and dashed arrows represent discontinuous fluxes. FC: environmental food concentration (in ), TC: environmental temperature (in degree Celsius), BO: carbon mass of the organism’s body (in ), HOU: carbon mass of the house contents (in ), GUT: carbon mass of the gut contents (in ), DET: accumulated carbon mass trapped within all the houses produced and released along the appendicularian life (in ), FEC: accumulated mass of unassimilated carbon (<i>i.e.</i>, faecal pellets) released into the environment (in ), F: Filtration (in ), I: Ingestion (in ), A: Assimilation (in ).</p

Simulated carbon accumulation rate within a house as function of the environmental food concentration (from 0 to 800 ).

<p>Simulations for an organism weight of 1 (solid line), and an organism weight of 3.97 (dashed line) versus experimental data from Acuña <i>et al. </i><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0078255#pone.0078255-Acua1" target="_blank">[27]</a> (empty circles).</p

Fluxes and state variables dynamics during simulation at constant food concentration.

<p>Rates of filtration (F), ingestion (I) and assimilation (A) in (a); carbon mass of the house contents (HOU) and carbon mass of the gut contents (GUT) (b) in . Run performed at a temperature of 15°C and a food concentration of 100 over four house cycles for an individual organism of 1 .</p