Avril Gulf Tuna
Population Simulation
Science and Global Issues: Biology — Ecology: Living on Earth, Activity 14
1 = 2000 tuna
Welcome to Avril Gulf. In this simulation you will
investigate how various factors influence the
sustainability of the Avril Gulf tuna population.
In the top left corner of the screen you will see
your population of fish.
In the top right corner you will see a graph
showing how the number of fish in the
population (y-axis) changes over 20-year
period (x-axis).
In the bottom right corner are the variables that
can be changed for each scenario. You can reset
or pause the simulation at any time.
There are four stages to the simulation. As the
simulation runs you can alter the values of the
variables. All you need to do is move a slider to
change a variableʼs value. It may be a number or
a simple “on” or “off.”
You may change the variables as the simulation
is running or while the simulation is paused.
In each stage your goal is to determine at what
values the variables need to be set for the
population to reach, and stay at, a sustainable
carrying capacity.
After 20 virtual years if you have not completed the stage
successfully, you can try again. At the end of each stage
the “Print” button will appear. Clicking that button will
allow you to print or write down the results of the
simulation. You will be given specific instructions at the
beginning of each stage.
Good luck!
In this stage you will examine how birth rate, death rate, and migration rate affect the sustainability of the Avril Gulf tuna population. The instructions on your Student Sheet will help to guide you.
In this stage you will examine how
predators, amount of food, and incidents
of disease and pollution affect the
sustainability of the Avril Gulf tuna
population. Continue to refer to your
Student Sheet for specific instructions.
In this stage you will examine how
fishing intensity and length of fishing
season affect the sustainability of the
Avril Gulf tuna population. Continue to
refer to your Student Sheet for specific
instructions.
In this stage all of the variables can be
manipulated to determine their collective
affect on the sustainibility of the Avril Gulf
tuna population. Continue to refer to
your Student Sheet for specific
insructions.