title: A mathematical derivation of size spectra in fish populations.
abstract: Taking into account a predator/prey size ratio in a size-structured population model leads to a partial derivative equation of which we study the properties. By expliciting the structure of the attractor of this equation, it is shown that a simple mechanism, size-based opportunistic predation, can explain the stability in the shape of size spectra observed in various marine ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: UR GEODES, IRD-Bondy, 32, av Henri-Varagnat, 93143 Bondy, France. arino@bondy.ird.fr
authors.forename: Ovide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arino
authors.forename: Yunne-Jai
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mullon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior