ontogeneticLinksProfitability

Overview

The file ontogeneticLinksProfitability.csv defines the energy gain, nutritional benefit, or more generally the profitability that a species obtains when interacting with another species (e.g., feeding on it).

This file specifies how valuable each prey or resource is for each predator or consumer.

Typical uses within the ecosystem model include:

  • Energy intake during feeding events.

  • Cost–benefit evaluation when selecting resources.

  • Ontogenetic changes in dietary profitability across life stages.

  • Differences in nutritional quality among prey or food types.

File Format

The file is a comma-separated values (CSV) matrix.

  • Rows (first column): represent the prey or resource species.

  • Columns (first row): represent the predators or consumers.

  • Cells: contain numerical values indicating the profitability a predator obtains from consuming or interacting with that prey/resource.

A higher value indicates a higher energetic or functional benefit.

Example Structure

Structure example (values are only illustrative):

, PredatorA, PredatorB, PredatorC
Prey1, 0.9, 0.4, 0.0
Prey2, 0.7, 0.98, 0.31
Prey3, 0.0, 0.64, 0.52

Interpretation Example

From the example:

  • PredatorA obtains a high benefit (0.9) from Prey1.

  • PredatorB gains more energy from Prey2 and Prey3.

  • PredatorC gains no benefit from Prey1 (0.0), indicating either incompatibility or lack of consumption.