1. General Model Information

Name: Microbial Benthos Method

Acronym: MBM

Contact:

Author(s):

Abstract:

The model was developed to simulate self-purification mechanisms that occur in a small stream heavely polluted by an organic load. As the main detritical processes that occur in small streams take place in the sediment, the model was applied to simulate the dynamics of both dissolved organic matter and benthic microorganisms. The physical part of the model included a hydrodynamical component derived from Saint-Venant`s equations, coupled to a transport model based on a convection-dispersion equation under uniform, unsteady flow conditions. The simulation of the biodegradation machanisms was based on biofilm kinetics. The linkage between hydrophysical and benthic mechanisms affords a dynamic description of the system. Transport modeling provides a picture in space and time of the evelution of organic carbon concentration in water. This evolution makes it possible to predict the fate of the benthic biological component. The main characteristics of the model were
STATE VARIABLES: cross sectional area, discharge, organic substrate in the flow, biofilm, organic substrate, microbial biofilm biomass.
FORCING FUNCTION: temperature, tributary inputs.
MAIN PARAMETERS: disperson coefficient, transfer velocity at the interface, biofilm shearing rate, maximum growth rate, bacterial decay rate, half saturation coefficient, biofilm cellular density.
INPUTS: Stream length, geometric description of the stream, time series of the discharge at the point x=0, time series of the organic load at x=0.

Model purpose
The purpose of the model was twofold: (i) to simulate the self-purification mechanisms in a lotic ecosystem and more generally, organic matter decomposition processes; (ii) to couple the two approaches which are commonly used in aquatic modeling, the transport oriented and the ecology oriented approaches.

Source of the Abstract:
Joergensen S.E., B. Halling-Soerensen and S.N Nielsen (Edts.) 1996: Handbook of Environmental and Ecological Modelling. CRC Press Boca Raton et al. 672 pp.

II. Technical Information

II.1 Executables:

II.2 Source-code:

II.3 Manuals:

II.4 Data:

III. Mathematical Information

III.1 Mathematics

III.2 Quantities

III.2.1 Input

III.2.2 Output

IV. References

V. Further information in the World-Wide-Web

information about Microbial Benthos (Maryland Sea Grant Research)

VI. Additional remarks

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