Modelling growth of the cold-water coral Desmophyllum pertusum according to food availability and the Goldilocks Principle

This study significantly advances previous attempts to model cold-water coral growth using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) by incorporating the finite nature of food availability, an important parameter in coral development. Building on the Goldilocks Principle, which states that coral polyps must surpass an energetic survival threshold to prosper, this model integrates food-based growth dynamics. The underlying SPH framework simulated fluid-coral interactions in which growth was promoted in optimal flow conditions and food-rich zones. Key innovations include dynamic energy reserves, where the energetic reserves of coral particles depend on food obtained from the surrounding fluid particles. Simulations reveal that higher food availability leads to larger, faster-growing colonies, although individual polyps tend to have shorter lifespans due to increased competition. The model highlights how colony expansion and resource competition influence long-term survival. These findings emphasise the importance of food availability in shaping coral morphology and resilience, providing a foundation for future studies on coral ecosystem responses to environmental stressors like ocean acidification. By bridging hydrodynamic and energetic constraints, this work offers a more holistic understanding of cold-water coral growth dynamics.