Predator-Prey Population Simulator
Watch rabbit and fox populations rise and fall with the Lotka-Volterra model.
Rabbits (prey)0
Foxes (predators)0
Equilibrium (prey, predators)–
Time0
What you can learn
- More prey means predators thrive, then more predators means prey crash, and the cycle repeats.
- The predator peak lags behind the prey peak.
- At the equilibrium point both populations would stay constant, but small changes start the cycle.
Frequently asked questions
Why do predator and prey populations cycle?
Prey growth feeds predator growth, then predators eat down the prey, then the predators starve, and the prey recover. The two populations chase each other in a loop.
Is the Lotka-Volterra model realistic?
It is a simplified model. Real ecosystems have limits like food supply and competition, but it captures the core lag between predator and prey.