There are two main variations to this model that you will be working with.

In the first variation, wolves and moose wander randomly around the landscape, while the wolves look for moose to prey on. Each step costs the wolves energy, and they must eat moose in order to renew their energy. If wolves are unable to catch enough moose , they will die. At each time interval both wolves and moose have a fixed probability of reproducing, depending on the corresponding sliders.  This form of the model follows the same assumptions as the Lotka-Volterra equation-based model described earlier.

Basics of the model

1. Make sure to select the "moose-wolves" option in the model version dropdown menu.

2. Click the SETUP button.  You can click this button at any time to reset the simulation to its initial settings.

3. Press the GO button to begin the simulation.  If you press the GO button while the model is running, this will pause the simulation.

4. Look at the monitors to see the current population sizes.

5. On the top of the world view you will see the word “ticks” with a number next to it. Each tick represents a unit of time passing by.

6. Look at the POPULATIONS plot to watch the populations fluctuate over time.

The behaviors of these organisms are influenced by changing the values of the green sliders. Go ahead and mess around with the model and sliders to get used to interacting with it.

Before answering the questions, let the simulation run for at least 300 ticks and observe the interactions of the wolf and moose over that time.