Ecology · Simulation-lite activity

Food Web Disruption Simulator

Change rainfall, habitat support, predator protection, and human pressure. Then run the ecosystem and see how producers, herbivores, and predators respond across the food web.

What you'll do

This activity is built as a simulation-lite lab, not a step-by-step challenge. You will choose a scenario, adjust ecosystem conditions, run the model, and watch the system respond before answering a few short mission questions.

Learning targets

  • Food web rolesRecognize how producers, herbivores, and predators connect in a food web.
  • Predict changePredict how a disruption or support move will affect connected organisms.
  • Read system dataInterpret changes in population levels and compare baseline versus current conditions.
  • Use evidenceChoose conclusions that match the ecosystem evidence without overclaiming.
  • Best next moveSelect the strongest restoration or management response for a disrupted system.

Jump into the simulator

Simulation lab

Scenario title

Scenario summary

0 / 9 complete
Control panel

Adjust the ecosystem, then run the simulation to compare it with the scenario baseline.

Disruption toggles

Live system panel

Compare the baseline food web with the current run and look for chain reactions across the system.

Baseline

Current run

Mission goal

Mission title

Mission text

Run the ecosystem to test your solution.
Analysis board

Answer these short questions after exploring the scenario. The simulation is the main activity; these questions help you explain what the system showed.

Teacher note

The simulation is free and student-facing. The companion pack extends it with printable scenario cards, prediction sheets, observation tables, CER-style explanation tasks, answer keys, and optional mastery-tracking tools.