INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN BIOLOGY

SBI3013

TITLE: SIMULATION

PREPARED BY:

NAME MATRIC NO.NUR IZYAN BINTI EYZANI D20141066918

NADZATUL ELYA BT MD FUAD D20141066881

LECTURER’S NAME: ENCIK AZMI BIN IBRAHIM

Contents

Descriptions Page Number

a) Introduction 1

b) Discussion 2 - 7

c) Conclusion 8

d) References 9

e) Appendix 10

Introduction

Simulation is also known as a model or representations. It is a imitation of the

operation of real process or system. To simplify it, it also means to show the storyboard or

model of any project before it was developed. It also show the system or process on how the

operation is conducted. STELLA is one of the software that provide a simulation of many

experiments for education.

Simulation was used in many sector such as in video games, education and training.

In education, we use simulation to show the experiments, results and the prediction that we

can get from the experiment that will conducted. It will helps students to observed and think

more deeply on every experiment that conducted. Students often use simulations to make

predictions on result about what happened further during the experiment.

There are three types of simulation which are live, virtual and constructive. First is

live stimulation. It is involve humans and equipment activity in a setting where they would

operate for real. For example is testing a car battery using a electrical tester. Second is

virtual. In virtual, it involve human and equipment under the computer controlled setting. It

allow users to concentrate on important stuff and time is in discrete steps. For example is a

flight stimulator. Lastly, the constructive simulation. It is typically do not involve human and

equipment. It is driven more by the proper sequencing events, rather by time. Mostly involve

by temperature, pressure and other weather factors. For example is Science based

simulation that typically constructive in nature.

In this simulation, my partner and I choose to use constructive simulation that involve

an interaction between prey and predator. In this experiment, the prey is Hares while the

predator is Lynx. The interaction between these two can be observed and discuss based on

the simulation.

1

Discussion

Figure 1

Figure 2

2

Figure 3

Figure 4

3

Lynx and Hare in figure 1 showing the interaction between them as the lynx hunts

hare. More specific, this interaction known as simple model of predator – prey dynamic. The

relationship between predator – prey of lynx and hare gives the explanation on how these

two species affect the dynamic population. In this simple predator – prey model we assume

that prey has unlimited food source, predator only has one type of prey and only this

predator gives danger to prey.

We decided to choose this topic, predator – prey dynamic as model of simulation

using STELLA software. From software that we run we had obtained the graphs which are

data showing their relationship in population. The simulations were run with different value of

parameter indicates the size of 1 time lynx harvest is to observe the changes population

throughout time. Based on figure 2, the parameter reading is 0 and both species show

constant population size throughout years because of control situation.

Next we increased the parameter value to 270, there are changes on both population

size. The hare’s population size increased from constant population size as they have food

source. After control situation, the lynx’s population size decreased from constant population

size as they not hunt the hare in previous control situation. As the hare’s population size

getting increased, the lynx’s population size also increased because they hunt the hares as

their prey. Related to lynx’s hunting, hare’s population size has decreased and keep going

decrease. Besides the consequence from declining of hare, lynx’s population size also

decrease. Then decreasing of lynx’s population size produces less hunting of hare therefore

hare’s population size get the chance to reproduce more and later on its population size

increases.

After that we change the parameter value to 380. The result pattern from graph is

same as 270 of parameter value, which is hare’s population size increased the lynx’s

population size also get increased and when hare’s population size decreased it affects the

lynx’s population size to decrease too.

4

Figure 5

In this graph, we can see as the size of 1 time Lynx harvest is 490, the graph show at

the earlier year, the number of both Lynx and Hares is same as there is no changes in

population. Later, we can see the number of Lynx is drop compared to Hares that continue

to increase. This is because, as the Lynx that act as a predator is lower, the number the

Hares which is prey is able to reproduce and the hares killed by the Lynx is decrease. When

the number of Lynx reach about 2000, the number of Hares is about 150000 as we know the

Hares births likes a rabbit which can give birth many young in one birth. In 15 years, we can

see the number of Lynx and Hares are low because no of Hares killed per Lynx per year is

depend on the Hare density. Since the Hares is low, so the Lynx also low as it undergoes

starvation and become death. The pattern within each 15 years is the same.

5

Figure 6

In this graph, when size of 1 time Lynx harvest is 600, early year show that both Lynx

and Hares do not have any changes in their number of population. After that, both show an

increase in number of population as when the number Hare higher, the number of Lynx also

higher. This is because the Lynx get enough food and can reproduce more offspring. We

can see there is an intersection between Lynx and Hares. After 15 year, Lynx decrease in

number due to the Hares decrease. It is because the Lynx depend on the Hares as their

food. The pattern was repeat across 15 years until 60 years.

6

Figure 7

In this graph, it show that when the size of 1 time Lynx harvest is 750. At early year,

we can see the number population for both Lynx and Hares has no changes means no

interaction prey and predator between this two. Later, the number of Lynx is drop extremely

and the intersection between occur with Hares during this time. As time goes, the number of

Lynx increased slowly compared to Hares that increased until more than 450 000. The

higher number of the Hares due to the decrease in number of Lynx. The intersection occur

when Lynx is 2000 while Hares 300000. After 15 years, we can see the Lynx slowly become

decrease in number together with Hares that reach 0 number of population. This extreme

change of Hares maybe due to the problem in population dynamic of Hares means the

Hares death and Hares birth are not balanced. However, the number of Lynx do not

decrease until it reach at 0 like Hares. Overall, we can say that the pattern is repeat through

15 years until 60 years.

7

Conclusion

STELLA is a software which help in reading the data of experiment by showing

through graphs. The simulation given gives advantages to students when conducting

experiments. From simulation also we can see pattern of changes clearly and precise

because less error is produced as handle using computer.

Besides that by using STELLA, it gives result quickly as soon as we run the

parameter. Therefore students will not waste their time in drawing the graph to see the

relationship in experiment’s variables. Plus, students may have much time to analyse and

synthesise the experiment about. Thus discussion session between students and teacher

can occur also practice students to think critically with much time they have. Next, we can

change the parameter value to study the various linking and relationship of experiment which

gives different result.

We can see the benefits we might get from using model and simulation thus it should

be conducted to all schools. Performance of students also better when using this technique

because they can get real data of experiment and get clear understanding on what the

experiment is about.

8

Reference

Predator-Prey Models. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from

https://www.math.duke.edu/education/webfeats/Word2HTML/Predator.html

The Rise and Fall of the Canada Lynx and Snowshoe Hare | Britannica Blog. (n.d.).

Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://blogs.britannica.com/2011/06/rise-fall-canada-

lynx-snowshoe-hare/

M. P. Ward, R., & J. Krebs, C. (1985). Behavioural responses of lynx to declining snowshoe

hare abundance. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 12(10.1139), 2817-2824. doi :z85-421

9

Appendix

STELLA software

Model in STELLA

10