Conservation Biology Lab
Parameters
Conservation Biology — Population Viability
Conservation biology uses population viability analysis to determine how large a population must be and what habitat conditions must hold for a species to survive over the long term. This simulation implements a stochastic population model with demographic and environmental variability, so you can test whether a reserve of a given size or a translocation program prevents extinction within a target timeframe. Minimum viable population size emerges from the simulations rather than being assumed.
What you can do in this simulation
- Set initial population size, birth rate, and death rate to define baseline dynamics
- Add demographic stochasticity and observe how small populations are prone to chance extinction
- Introduce periodic catastrophes (drought, disease) and measure their impact on extinction probability
- Simulate a translocation program by adding individuals and track population recovery
- Run many stochastic trials and plot the extinction probability distribution over time
Concepts covered
population viability analysis · minimum viable population · stochastic extinction · demographic stochasticity · carrying capacity · translocation
Related simulations
- Ecosystem Dynamics — Predator-Prey Cycles
- Ecology Simulation: Populations, Habitats & Food Webs
- Biodiversity Simulator — Species & Ecosystems
- Carbon Cycle — Atmospheric CO₂ & Reservoirs
- Climate Modeling — Temperature & Feedback Loops
- Pollution Dispersion — Air & Water Contaminants
Browse all Environmental Science simulations →
Free to use in your browser — no signup required. Found a bug or have an idea to make it better? Tell us.
Finished experimenting?
Save one completion to this browser's signed guest ledger, or directly to your account when signed in.