This block represents both predator and prey animals. Enter parameters in the dialog for the type of animal desired. The first block on the left of the model eats only carrion. The other blocks eat their respective prey (the block to their left). Change the parameters and the number of blocks in the model to experiment with balancing the environment.
PARAMETERS:
Initial # of animals - the starting number.
Mean breeding time - the time to duplicate the animal.
Mean # offspring - the average number of animals
produced in each breeding period.
Max # of animals - the maximum number in the system.
Min # of survivors - the minimum number in the system.
Mean starving time - the period an animal can go without
its required amount of food and
survive.
Each animal requires...- the number of prey or carrion
food equivalents required to feed
each animal per starving period.
Each dead animal supplies ... - the amount of food that each
dead animal provides for a carrion
eater. How much the carrion eater
requires is determined by its "Each
animal requires..." parameter.
CONNECTORS:
Pop - The current population of the animal.
Pot. live out - Outputs the total number of prey available to the predator on the right. Connect this to the “Pot. food in” connector on the block to the right.
Pot. food in - Takes in the available amount of prey, up to the amount required by the animal for survival. Connect this to the “Pot. live out” connector on the block to the left.
Carrion - The number of dead animals. It is used to add dead predators to a food pool for the carrion-eater (the first block on the left). Connect all 'Carrion' connectors together, then connect the “Carrion” connector of the carrion-eater to its own “Pot. food in” connector.
The mechanism used here is a dynamic array that is as big as the maximum population. Each member of the population array can age independently of the population as a whole, and animals can breed to fill up unused members of the array, or starve and free up space. Eaten members are cleared from the array, thus providing a realistic view of even small populations.
