Ecology Lab Instructions

Simulator Overview This drop down menu allows you to change the lesson. These buttons allow you to run the simulator, either as one continuous simulation (run) or by time intervals (step). You can click pause at any time to stop the simulation and restart it by pushing run or step. Reset will reset the experiment to the original values. Light buttons indicate that organism is not include in the simulation. Dark buttons indicate that organism IS include in the simulation. This graph shows number of organisms present on the y-axis and time on the x-axis, The composition of the community is shown here. This key allows you to determine the types of organisms in the graph.

Lesson 1 Producers – Step 1 Click Run to start the simulation. Observe how the distribution of species change (above) and how that relates to the number of organisms shown in the graph (below). Plant species A and B are already turned on.

Lesson 1 Producers – Step 2 Click on the rabbit.

Lesson 1 Producers – Step 2 From the menu, select eats Plant A.

Lesson 2 Food Web – Step 1 Switch to the Food Web Lesson Click on the top predator and select eats omnivore A Turn on plant B.

Lesson 2 Food Web – Step 2 The all on button will add all organisms to the ecosystem.