Predator vs. Prey Simulation

In class, we began reviewing how the population numbers of predators or prey can effect the equilibrium and population of the other. We used a simulation with paper to display the effects of the rise and fall of prey and predator species. In our simulation, we explored the numbers of hares to wolves in the arctic tundra. The color of the rabbits and the sizes of the wolves were also a factor that we analyzed in our data. After 12 trials, the data we collected is graphed below.

X Axis: Round
Y Axis: Population Numbers
Series 1: White Hare
Series 2: Light Colored Hare
Series 3: Dark Colored Hare
Series 4: Small Wolf
Series 5: Large Wolf

Predator vs. Prey Graph

In analyzing the data, many of the things we noticed corresponded with topics we learned earlier this year. For example, the natural selection between each of the species showed favoritism towards specific hares and wolves. The white colored hares showed a much larger survival and reproduction rate, opposed to the darkest colored hare because of the environment in which they're in. A light colored hare is much more likely to survive in the tundra because of its color and ability to camouflage. The larger wolf was also able to catch more rabbits, survive, and then reproduce. The smaller wolf had a decline in population because it wasn't able to sustain itself with its small size.