Biology: Simulations

 The Co-op Biology class is in the middle of Ecology.  It’s time for several simulations.  We’re doing The Lynx Eats the Hare, a predator-prey simulation.  Deer Me is a similar model between deer and gray wolves.  Make many copies of the hare or deer.  We’re doing Mark-Recapture with white beans and Measuring Biodiversity with a bean mix.  Additionally, we’re doing this Newspaper Camouflage lab.  Take a look at Population Sampling.  You only need small slips of paper to do this simulation.  I like to help kids see how biologists work in the field.  Random sampling is essential in any study.  We invest a lot of time after these simulations discussing the animals, making spreadsheets, and reviewing terms.  I find these simulation an essential component to Biology.