Regulation of reproductive processes with Dynamic Energy Budgets

1. Linking organismal level processes to underlying suborganismal mechanisms at the molecular, cellular and organ level constitutes a major challenge for predictive ecological risk assessments. This challenge can be addressed with the simple bioenergetic models in the family of Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB), which consist of a small number of state equations quantifying universal processes, such as feeding, maintenance, development, reproduction and growth. 2. Motivated by the need for process-based models to evaluate the impact of endocrine disruptors on ecologically relevant endpoints, this paper develops and evaluates two general modeling modules describing demand-driven feedback mechanisms within the DEB modeling framework exerted by gonads on the allocation of resources to production of reproductive matter. 3. These modules describe iteroparous, semelparous and batch-mode reproductive strategies. The modules have a generic form with both positive and negative feedback components; spe...