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To model Skeletonema costatum blooms and their relationship with environmental parameters in situ, a S. costatum-specific zero-dimensional box model based on the mechanistic model Eco3M was established using physiological features. The parameters were calibrated using experimental counterparts, and simulations were compared with published laboratory findings. The resulting normalized objective function (NOF) values are less than 1.0 (and in most cases less than 0.58) and the values for the slope γ (between 0.656 7-1.127 4) and R (between 0.806 8-0.971) are close to 1.0 for most of the sub-figures. This indicates good agreement between simulated and measured data and suggests that the model reproduces the general characteristics of S. costatum growth and use of nutrients under different N- or P-limiting conditions. The model is appropriate for further applications and can be used to test more scenarios using other nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]