FACULTY OF SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS

SULTAN IDRIS EDUCATION UNIVERSITY

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SCIENCE
(SSI 3013)
TITLE: SIMULATION BY USING STELLA SOFTWARE (PREY-PREDATOR
SAMPLE MODEL)

PREPARED FOR:
ENCIK AZMI BIN IBRAHIM

PREPARED BY :
NUR NADHIRA BINTI NADZARUDDIN
SITI NURNAJAH ADILAH BINTI MOSLI

LIST OF CONTENTS :

D20161075136 (GROUP B)
D20151073930 (GROUP B)

Cover
List Of Contents
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Advantages Of Simulation And Modelling
Methodology
Results
Analysis
Conclusion
Reference

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4-5
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8-10
11-12
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to thanks my lecturer, Mr. Azmi bin Ibrahim for his valuable advices that
he gave during the process of preparing the assignment that titled Stella Software By Prey-

Predator Sample and presentation on Simulation By Using Stella Software. The guidance
and tips are truly helpful in the preparation process of this assignment and the presentation.
Apart from that, I would also like to show our appreciation to our classmates that
gave suggestions during the process of preparing this report and presentation. Next, I would
also like to thanks our friends especially to my partner that share ideas, thoughts and give
suggestion about this tasks.
In conclusion, I would like to thanks to everyone that involve directly or indirectly in
the process of preparing this assignment and presentation.

INTRODUCTION

STELLA is the system thinking for the education and research which are most exciting. By
having this software, the education and research are become more exciting the student
because they can move out of the lecture hall and library and this systems also can provide
opportunity for them to create, experience and see the experiment that they do. The other
advantage when using the software, STELLA are offers a practical way to dynamically
visualize and communicate how complex the systems and ideas really work. We use this
STELLA to stimulate a system over time and we also can jump the gap between the theory
and the real world.
Besides, this system enables the students to creatively change the systems which can
increase their performance in manipulating the experiment. Moreover, the communicate
system inputs and outputs are very clear and the demonstration of the outcome also are easy
to understand.
For our assignment we have choose the predator-prey oscillations that are common in
many simple ecosystems. By providing this simple yet rigorous language for representing
dynamic system, this STELLA enable us to discovered and analysis the map that are being
constructed to do the assumptions about the process that governs a particular dynamic
phenomena. The predator-prey dynamics can be highly qualitative and simplistic such as the
predators tend to regulate the prey population or vice versa.
Interesting and only partly understood destiny variations are those which are not
related to seasonal or obvious annual changes, but which involve regular oscillations or
cycles of abundance with peaks and depressions every few years, often occurring with such
regularity that the population size may be predicted in advance. The best known cases
concern mammals, birds, insects, fish, and seed production in plant nor them environment.
Among the mammals, the best-studied example exhibit either a 9- to 10- year or 3- to 4- year
periodicity. A classic example of a 9- to 10- year oscillation is that of the snowshoe hare and
the lynx.
This Predator versus Prey Model (Lynx versus Hare) is prepared by John Biggerstaff.
The aim of this exercise is to develop a model of a system that illustrate population dynamics
which are involving predator and their prey. For this experiment, we need to understand the
relationships between models of prey-predator at work for each of the population and the
interplay between the populations. The population is dependent for each other and if
something happens to effect on population, the other population also change.
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But based on the title, Simple Prey-Predator Dynamics, we are only focusing on the
simplest population model species that would show no predators and the exponential growth
for that species. For example, we are choosing rats and snakes population in 3 hectares oil
plantation. This population are showing no other predators and no exponential growth for the
species. The population that we are choosing is dependent on the birth rate and also including
the previous population.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To study the relationship between predator and prey (Lynx versus Hare).
2. To describe the changes for the graph of population between the Lynx and Hare.
3. To identify whether the students can make prediction by referring the plotted graph
between Lynx and Hares.

ADVANTAGES OF SIMULATION AND MODELLING

Simulation models could be used as a tool in education system, from primary and
secondary school implemented from the users with educational and fun purpose, up to a high
school system where use of specific simulation models helps certain research, helping in
decision making, or in the course relation to creation of simulation models. Through
simulation and modelling, it can attract the attention of the student thus increase their interest
on the subject in turn sharpened the student understanding on the subject. Compare to
traditional way of teaching, simulation and modelling help to live up the class thus can create
a two way process of teaching and learning that enhance the understanding of student.
The simulation help the teacher to explain to the student by frame of motion process
thus overcome misconception of the student. By simulation, teacher can show what really
happened to the normal force, gravitational force and tension force when the degree of the
plane board are increase. It also help the student to relate the relationship between changes in
degree of the plane board with the three forces. Students had the advantage to use the
simulation tools, animations, and learning modules to get more understanding about the
concept of the course. It will help the student to imagines something that they cant see with
their naked eye. For instance, student cannot see force, thus with this kind of simulation,
student are be able to understand more about the topic. Through simulation the student can
virtually observe what happened to the force. The system is already virtually have been set up
and the student will only have to observe the changed or the outcome of the process.
Next, simulation and modelling can increase student motivation. Students will be more
motivated because they are able to explore the experiment by themselves. It can give them a
new experience and knowledge through this simulation and modelling. They also can learn
more. The students are also be able to carry out the experiment by their own and they can
learn more about the experiment. While doing the experiment, they can easily change and
adjust the parameter given for more understanding. Besides that, it will help students to make
predictions and expectations in an experiment for a certain cases. Thus, learning by using
simulation give many benefit for students such as the students will feel happy to learn
something and the process of teaching and learning become more meaningful. The students
become very well motivated and interested in the course.

METHODOLOGY

For this project, we used the STELLA to analyse the predator-prey dynamics
relationship. We change the population to see the effect on the predator-prey graph. After
changing the population, we start analysed the results by referring of the graphs changes.
Based on the model that we choose, there are two ways that we are used to explore the
structure of this model. However, we observed the essential structure of the models and just
by clicking the spacebar we can know the advance through the story of the structure of the
predator-prey interactions.
We followed the guide of the model by taking the guided tour and view the entire
model of the predator-prey dynamics between the lynx and hare. All the results from this
project were collected and analysed based on the graph that we were studied.

RESULTS

Graph 1

Graph 2

Graph 3

Graph 4

Graph 5

Graph 6

ANALYSIS
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Prey-predator is an interaction between two organisms of unlike species in which one

of them acts as predator that captures and feeds on the other organism that serves as the prey.
In this experiment which is predator-prey dynamics, lynx is the prey while hare is the
predator. The graph show same pattern on the relationship of prey and predator. A real
difference can be seen from graph 2 and graph 6. When we set the variable into certain value,
it will show the changes on the graph. Based on the graph, when the student increase or
change the size of 1 time lynx harvest, the population of lynx and hare on the graph also
change. The pattern of all graph in each sizes are the same but changes will occur due to birth
and death population. When the number of prey increases, number of predator will be
decreases and vice versa. However, the pattern of the graph will remain the same. Student
will be able to predict the trend of the graph and understand the experiment well.
The purpose of this attempt to develop a model of a system that illustrates population
dynamics involving predators and their prey. We had used a great deal of the material from
the Stella software. Our attempt here was to abbreviate the discussion and to bring forth the
same ideas.
In order to model a predator against prey relationship, we need to understand the
relationships at work for each population and the interplay between the populations. Each
population is dependent on the other and so whatever happens to one effects the other. In
order to model a predator vs. prey relationship we need to understand the relationships at
work for each population and the interplay between the populations. Each population is
dependent on the other and so whatever happens to one effects the other.
In order to run the simulation, we have to set with the zero number of removal Lynx.
Since, there is no Lynx, so we can predict that there is no predation occur among Lynx and
snowshoe hares. Based on the Graph 1, the interactions between Snowshoe hares and Lynx
are constant. This is show that the population of both species are stable.
Next, we adjust the reading of the number Lynx harvest up to 260 (Graph 2) and we
increase it into 500 (Graph 2). What can we predict that, as the number of snowshoe hares
increase, the number of Lynx also increases .Therefore, Graph 2 and Graph 3 shows the
populations growth and decline through time of both Lynx and Snowshoe hares. From the
graph, we can see that the snowshoe hares population leads the lynx population through
cycle.
At the beginning, we predict as the lynx cannot detect a decrease in snowshoe hares
immediately. Therefore it will experience the difficulties of finding prey. However, the
snowshoe hares does respond immediately to the Lynx declining numbers. so there is a lag in
the response of each population to the changes that takes place in other.

Lastly, the number of Lynx harvest is adjust up to 720, the maximum value. The prediction
can be made is there are higher number of hares will consumed due to the high number of
Lynx harvest. As the number of hares increase, Lynx also increased. From the graph, we can
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see that the snowshoe hares population leads the lynx population through cycle. Suddenly,
there are decline in hares population. We predicted this declined maybe because Lynx have to
turn to other prey. Since there are more hares and nutrition available, the Lynx population
grows and the cycle begins.
A simulation of a system is the operation of a model which is a representation of that
system. Using simulation in teaching and learning can bring advantage which the process of
teaching and learning becomes more interesting and exciting as the learners can explore
everything in various types of experiments. Students will be able to discover and learn new
thing. Learning from simulation will help students to understand one experiment easier and
not only imagining what have been taught. Teachers will use less time in teaching since the
student can understand the simulation easier rather than being teach about one experiment
theoretically.

CONCLUSION

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In conclusion, student will be able to learn the relationship of prey-predator dynamics.

When the number of prey increases, predator will decrease and vice versa. The graph will
show different pattern based on the number of lynx which have been controlled as a variable.
Using simulation in teaching and learning process will help student to learn an experiment
easier and use less time. Student can explore new thing even though not in a formal class
since there is a software that can be used to see the model and simulation such as STELLA.
Simulation and modelling offer many key advantages over real life and education. It
give many benefit and help us to visualize the data. We are able to see the pattern and draw a
conclusions from the experiment. Through simulation and modelling it can promote the deep
learning that can enhanced the understanding. Moreover, students can know the relationship
between the variables in the model. For example, in this simple model, student can change
the parameter and see the result from the graph. The simulation also make the students
understand better about the interaction among preys and predator.
Besides that, student are able to conduct the experiment more easier and faster.
Simulations help students understand probability and sampling theory. Even though, there are
some disadvantage of simulation such as it can be expensive to measure how one thing
affects another, to take the initial measurements, to create the model itself ,and limited
portability but still simulation and modelling provide us with many advantages. .

REFERENCE
1. [Link]
2. Steven K. Rice, Grant E. Brown and R. Paul Willing. Computer simulation modelling
using STELLA to enhance investigate learning in a Biology curriculum. Retrieved on
16th November 2015 from website:
3. [Link]
4. Angela B. Shiflet and George W 2006. [Link] Dynamics Tool: STELLA
Version 9 Tutorial 1 Introduction to Computational Science: Modeling and Simulation
for the [Link] [Link] University Press
5. [Link]

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