Modeling Marine Ecosystems with Virtual Reality Predators and Prey Module

Presentation Graphics

VES-V Screenshot 1: sand flats in the Gulf of Maine

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 2: Navigating to different Ocean Regions and Habitats.

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 3: Navigating within an ocean habitat

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 4: Obtaining species specific biomass data

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 5: Adjusting the year of the VES-V visualization.

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 6: Viewing as many selected species as possible in the view screen.

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 7: Selecting a specific species within a habitat.

(activity I)

VES-V Screenshot 8: Selecting a scenario within a habitat.

(activity I)

Figure 1: Snowshoe Hare & Canadian Lynx

(Activity II)

Simple equations representing the changes in hare and lynx populations:

Change in Hare Population = Hare Births - Hare Deaths

Change in Lynx Population = Lynx Births - Lynx Deaths

(Activity II)

Hare-Lynx Model Spreadsheet Equations:

Equations to calculate the values for the hare population:

Number of Hare Births = k1 x (# of Hares)

Number of Hare Deaths = k2 x (# of Hares) x (# of Lynx)

Change in Hare Population = (# of Hare Births) - (# of Hare Deaths)

New Hare Population = Previous Hare Population + Change in Hare Population

Equations to calculate the values for the lynx population:

Number of Lynx Births = k2 x (# of Hares) x (# of Lynx)

Number of Lynx Deaths = k3 x (# of Lynx)

Change in Lynx Population = (# of Lynx Births) - (# of Lynx Deaths)

New Lynx Population = Previous Lynx Population + Change in Lynx Population

(Activity II)

|   | A             | B                                                      | C                                                      |
|---|---------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 1 | k1            | 0.02                                                   | Hare Birth Rate                                        |
| 2 | k2            | 0.0005                                                 | Hare Death & Lynx Birth Rate                       |
| 3 | k3            | 0.05                                                   | Lynx Death Rate                                        |
| 4 |               |                                                        |                                                        |
| 5 | Time (months) | Hares                                                  | Lynx                                                   |
| 6 | 0             | 100                                                    | 25                                                     |
| 7 | 1             | =B6+((B1*B6)-(B2*B6*C6))OR=B6+(($B$1*B6)-($B$2*B6*C6)) | =C6+((B2*B6*C6)-(B3*C6))OR=C6+(($B$2*B6*C6)-()$B$3*C6) |
| 8 | 2             | =B7+((B1*B7)-(B2*B7*C7))                               | =C7+((B2*B7*C7)-(B3*C7))                               |

Table 1: Predator-Prey Model Setup in a Spreadsheet

(activity II)

Figure 2: Graph of Hare and Lynx Populations over Time

(Activity III)

Figure 3: Lynx Population Increases when Hare Population is High

(Activity IV)

Figure 4: Lynx Population Decreases when Hare Population is Low

(Activity IV)

Figure 5: Hare Population Decreases when Lynx Population is High

(Activity IV)

Figure 6: Hare Population Increases when Lynx Population is Low

(Activity IV)

Figure 7: Historical Hare and Lynx Population Data from Canada

(Activity V)

Figure 8: Cod and Mackerel Biomass from the NEFSCassessment Dataset

(Activity VI)

Figure 9: Cod and Mackerel Biomass from the NEFSCsurveytrawlandMammalBird Dataset

(Activity VI)

Figure 10: Partial Food Web Including Cod and Mackerel

(Activity VI)

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