Zooplankton effect on the phytoplankton evolution

The paper uses methods of mathematical modeling to estimate a zooplankton influence on the dynamics of phytoplankton abundance. We propose a three-component model of the phytoplankton-zooplankton community with discrete time, in which toxic and non-toxic species of phytoplankton compete for resources. We use the Holling functional response of type II to describe interaction between zoo- and phytoplankton. The restriction of phytoplankton biomass growth by the availability of external resources (mineral nutrition, oxygen, light, etc.) is described by the Ricker competition model.