Simulating the Predator-Prey
Interaction Lab
Introduction
Before you begin predict what will
happen to the camouflage and
visual acuity scores of the prey and
predator over 10 generations.
Write a hypothesis in your lab
notebook.
GAME SET UP
Choose your character
• GAME MASTER:
– Distributes game pieces
– Determines predator/prey interactions
– Removes necessary game pieces from board
– Organizes game pieces at the end of the round
– Takes necessary pictures of game board
Choose your character
• GAME MASTER
• RANDOMIZER
– Reads off a random number table when dispersing
animals
Choose your character
• GAME MASTER
• RANDOMIZER
• DISTRIBUTOR
– Makes game pieces needed (cuts out 1” squares)
– Maintains “death bed”
Choose your character
•
•
•
•
GAME MASTER
RANDOMIZER
DISTRIBUTOR
RECORDER
– Records the results in data table at the end of
round
RANDOMIZER
12
23
34
45
GAME MASTER
32
25
34
42
Data
RECORDER
DISTRIBUTOR
DISTRIBUTOR should cut out 1” squares and label
16 predator cards (green) and 16 prey cards
(purple) according to the image below.
DISPERSAL
RANDOMIZER will read off the random numbers table
while the GAME MASTER places the game pieces on the
board.
Each pair of numbers represents the coordinates of one
of the squares on the board. Ex. If the number is 2 5,
place the animal in column 2, row 5.
1
2
1
2
3
4
5
4
3
4
5
RANDOMIZER will read off the random numbers table
while the GAME MASTER places the game pieces on the
board.
Each pair of numbers represents the coordinates of one
of the squares on the board. Ex. If the number is 2 5,
place the animal in column 2, row 5.
Do this until all pieces (32 total) are placed.
You’ll be
thankful later.
PREDATION
• Each predator now has a chance to eat (only once) and
reproduce, but only if there is a prey in the same square
with a camouflage score less than the predator’s visual
acuity.
• EX. A predator with a visual acuity of 6 will detect
and eat a prey with a camouflage score of 5, but not
one with a camouflage score of 7.
• Remove dead prey immediately
• Immediately after a predator eats the prey, it then
reproduces as described later.
• YOU MUST GO SQUARE BY SQUARE (1 1; 1 2; 1 3; etc)
• Each of these steps will be carried out by the GAME
MASTER with the help of the DISTRIBUTOR
PREDATOR REPRODUCTION
• When a predator eats it obtains enough energy to produce two
offspring. Then it dies and is removed from the board.
• Remember that in nature parents and their offspring tend to
resemble each other but are not identical. To simulate this let
one of the two offspring have a visual acuity score greater than
the parent by 1 (there in no upper limit to visual acuity). Give
the second offspring a score that is one less than the parent, but
no lower than 0. The DISTRIBUTER will make the new pieces.
• Mark each new offspring with the round in which it was born (in
this case round 1). But if that predator reproduces again, mark
it as the next generation (2).
• If there is any uneaten prey still in the square the offspring can
immediately eat them (and reproduce themselves) if their
visual acuity is high enough. Thus, you could have several
generations of predators in one round
STARVATION
• Predators that have not been eaten in two
rounds will starve and be removed from
the board by the GAME MASTER.
• This will not happen during round 1!
• See column 1 in table 1 to know whom to
remove in subsequent rounds.
PREY REPRODUCTION
• All surviving prey now has the opportunity to
reproduce.
• A prey can reproduce only if no other prey occupies the
same square. If two prey occupy the same square there
is not enough food to supply the energy needed for
reproduction. However,
• Prey never starves. They survive into the next round.
(The presence of predators in the square does not
prevent a prey animal from reproducing since predators
do not compete for the same food eaten by the prey.)
• Reproduction by prey is the same as in predators. Each
prey is replaced by two offspring, one of which has
better camouflage (by 1) and one of which has worse
camouflage (by 1), except that camouflage can never
drop below 0.
RECORD RESULTS
• At the end of each round calculate the
average scores for surviving predators and
prey.
• It is easiest to organize your game pieces
according to their camouflage or visual
acuity score.
• The RECORDER should calculate averages.
• Record the results in Table 1.