Simulation of a predator-prey interaction.
In this experiment I will observe the patterns of the prey-predator interaction by charting the generations. My hypothesis is that when the number of rabbits increase that the number of lynx will also increase. Once the number of lynx increases the number of rabbits will decrease and then the cycle will repeat.
These are the steps I will be following:
1.) Start with a population of three paper rabbits one inch square, in a twelve inch square habitat.
2.) Toss paper lynx (three inch square) into the habitat.
3.) Count the number of rabbits that the lynx lands on as eaten. If the lynx doesn't eat more that three rabbits then it starves.
4.) I start each cycle with one lynx regardless. If a lynx does not starve then the population doubles. Same for rabbits. If a rabbit survives then it doubles.
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| Good Luck Kill |
Luck of the toss had a lot to do with it. Sometimes I could land on three or more rabbits even if there wasn't that many rabbits. But sometimes I wasn't that lucky and the lynx starved. See the chart below to see how my numbers fluctuated.
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| Bad Luck Kill |
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| When the rabbit population was at is peak it was easy to feed the lynx. Sometimes up to 9 rabbits each. |
Five disturbances that could subject natural population to pressure would be:
• Sickness or disease among animals
• Drought or lack of resources
• Fire or other natural disasters
• Other predators may invade the area in search of food
• Extermination of one of either the Lynx or Rabbit
Throughout my research I observed the pattern and balance between these two species. Giving the rabbits two cycles to grow supplied the Lynx enough food to reproduce. Within two cycles the Lynx's numbers had exceeded the rabbits and the lynx began to starve. The cycle then repeats.
While conducting this experiment I have seen the delicate balance between predator and prey. It seems to me that any little twitch of fate could dramatically impact a community of species. It also shows me indirectly how different impacts might produce certain outcomes, for example, if hunters kill all the lynx the the rabbit population would become out of control within a few generations. Conducting this experiment also opens up my mind to think about other species interactions and to try to see pattens in there relationships.
• Extermination of one of either the Lynx or Rabbit
Throughout my research I observed the pattern and balance between these two species. Giving the rabbits two cycles to grow supplied the Lynx enough food to reproduce. Within two cycles the Lynx's numbers had exceeded the rabbits and the lynx began to starve. The cycle then repeats.
While conducting this experiment I have seen the delicate balance between predator and prey. It seems to me that any little twitch of fate could dramatically impact a community of species. It also shows me indirectly how different impacts might produce certain outcomes, for example, if hunters kill all the lynx the the rabbit population would become out of control within a few generations. Conducting this experiment also opens up my mind to think about other species interactions and to try to see pattens in there relationships.
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