The standard Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model is widely used to describe the physiology of individual animals. Here we parametrized the DEB model for the lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus mainly on the basis of literature data. Next we performed an inverse modeling approach to predict the food intake rate of gull chicks (model input) on the basis of their growth trajectory from hatching to fledging (model output). Food intake rate and growth were also measured for this period in an aviary experiment, where three different diet treatments resulted in a large range in overall intake rate. These measured food intake rate data were not used in the parameter estimation procedure, but rather to validate model results. Model predictions of food intake rate were systematically only about 10% below the observations, but predictions and observations correlated strongly. The DEB model might be used to predict food provisioning rates in the field, which are difficult to obtain, on the basis of growth data, which are much easier to get.

中文翻译：

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动态能量预算模型预测小黑背鸥雏鸟产后能量摄入

标准动态能量预算 (DEB) 模型被广泛用于描述个体动物的生理机能。在这里，我们主要根据文献数据参数化了小黑背鸥 Larus fuscus 的 DEB 模型。接下来，我们执行了一种逆向建模方法，根据从孵化到羽化的生长轨迹（模型输出）来预测海鸥雏鸡的摄食率（模型输入）。在鸟舍实验中还测量了这一时期的食物摄入率和生长率，其中三种不同的饮食处理导致总体摄入率的范围很大。这些测量的食物摄入率数据未用于参数估计程序，而是用于验证模型结果。食物摄入率的模型预测系统地仅比观察值低约 10%，但预测和观察密切相关。DEB 模型可用于基于更容易获得的增长数据来预测难以获得的现场食品供应率。