Geographic Speciation

Display

Lizards in left habitat0

Lizards in right habitat0

Predators (weasels / foxes)0 / 0

TimeDay · 00:00

Completed cycles0

Distance travelled (lizards)

Left during the day0 m

Left at night0 m

Right during the day0 m

Right at night0 m

Population: left habitat / right habitat

Lizard types: left habitat

Lizard types: right habitat

Export result

The result is displayed below the simulation. You can scroll down and copy or save the image if needed.

Initial situation of the simulation

At the beginning, different lizards live together in one continuous habitat. At night foxes go hunting, while weasels search for prey during the day. Different predators therefore affect the population at different times of day. During the simulation, weather events can also occur that permanently change the habitat. Observe how this gradually changes the habitat and the composition of the population.

Task: Observe how the lizard population develops over the course of the simulation. Pay attention to how predators, times of day, and weather events affect the two habitats and the composition of the population. At the end, export the simulation result and analyse the charts.

Click Start to begin the simulation.

Decision: what happens next?

After several stable cycles, the situation becomes more critical. You decide which event permanently changes the environment.

Severe thunderstorm

Dark clouds, heavy rain, and lightning: the area is reshaped, scree is exposed, and the conditions change abruptly.

Wildfire

Dry vegetation catches fire: the fire spreads, charring the landscape and leaving it dark in the long term.

The simulation pauses until you make a choice.

A flash flood

Because of climate change, ice surfaces melt faster. More meltwater and heavier rainfall create a river. The previously continuous habitat is split into two separate habitats.

Click Rain to trigger the event.

Simulation complete – save results

You can now export the results or display them directly below the simulation. Then start another run with a different weather event than in run 1 and compare the results of both runs.

Image sources

All images in this simulation are entirely AI-generated.

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