06.01 Predator-Prey Simulation Lab
In this activity, you will simulate predator prey interaction. You will use paper squares to represent the predator and
prey populations and will record and graph the changes in the populations over 20 generations. You should notice
populations increase and decrease as you do this activity. When you graph your results, this will result in a graph
with a line that has ups and downs.
Materials:

Cut out 200
1-inch squares for your “prey” (bunny/hare)
You can use the lab sheet provided on the
HELP SITE

Cut out 30
2-inch squares for your “predator” (wolf)
You can use the lab sheet provided on the
HELP SITE

Mark off a 3-foot square “habitat” area on
your table or floor to do this activity.
Have your data table (from your lab report)
ready so that you can record your results
after each round (generation of predators
and prey).

** Hint: Don’t have a printer? No problem!!! Use other items to represent predator and prey.
Here are some suggestions.
Wolves should be 30 larger items like: index
card, playing card, sugar packet, hair tie, small
toy, cut up scrap paper into 2inch squares
Rabbits should be 200 smaller items like: coins,
paper clip, yarn, small hair tie, cut up scrap
paper into 1 inch squares
Data Collection: RECORD YOUR INITIAL NUMBERS OF PREDATOR AND PREY NOW.
1. Round/generation 1 HUNTING = add 6 prey (bunnies) into your habitat area.
**Hint: Sit in a position that you can drop/toss the predator & prey squares in to your habitat area.
** Hint: Any squares of predator or prey that fall out of the habitat area should be immediately put back in to
the marked off 3-foot habitat area.
2. Next, drop 2 predator squares into the habitat area ONE AT A TIME and attempting to touch/catch as many
prey/bunnies as possible.
a. Bunnies/prey that are touched by a
wolf/predator have been eaten and are
removed from the habitat area.
b. Bunnies that are NOT touched by a wolf
have survived this round/generation
c. Wolves that touched 3 bunnies have
survived and will reproduce, so add 1 more
wolf for each on that survived.
d. Wolves/predators that did NOT touch at least
3 bunnies did NOT survive and are removed
from the habitat area.
WE
SURVIVED!
Data Collection: RECORD YOUR DATA NOW (Count number of predator and prey left).
3. What if all of the wolves/predators do NOT survive?
Then you recorded zero predators remaining. At the start of the next round 1 new wolf will move in to the
habitat area. There should always be a minimum of 1 wolf/predator at the start of a new round/generation.
4. Double the number of bunnies/prey that you have left after each round/generation. Example: If you have 4
bunnies/prey left, you will add 4 more so that a total of 8 are dropped into the habitat area.
5. RECORD EACH ROUND/GENERATION ON THE DATA TABLE.
6. Continue this process through 20 rounds/generations.
Graph the Data
 If you don’t have graph paper or can print the data sheet create your line graphs online using:
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx?ID=27f6ef3a51754da0beb370dca285aee5
Lab Report
 Don’t forget to answer the questions on the lab report
Answer each of the following questions completely using your results from the activity as well as what you
have learned in the lesson.
1. Identify the roles (producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, or decomposer) of the hare and
the wolf in the simulated ecosystem. Explain your answers in complete sentences.
Hare:
Wolf:
2. Describe, in complete sentences, the relationship between the predator and prey populations in the
activity. How does a change in each population affect the other?
3. Create an example food chain for this simulated ecosystem that shows the transfer of energy starting
with the sun and ending with the wolf. You will need to decide on a possible producer that would be
appropriate for this habitat.
4. How are producers able to produce food?
5. Explain how the law of conservation of energy is obeyed in a food chain.