Nutria Model

What is this model?

This is a simple system model of exponential population growth, with an added parameter that determines carrying capacity. The population, in this case of Nutria, a species of aquatic rodent, reproduces based on its birth rate and dies based on its death rate. The competition factor then determines to what degree death rates are determined by population. This simulates the effect of competition over limited resources and effectively limits the population.

What can this Model be used to teach?

Understand why and under what circumstances the population levels off

Understand the relationship between recursion and exponential growth

Understand the difference between agent and system models

Related Models

Simple Population Growth Model (Excel)

Reaction Data Model (Excel)

Epidemic Model (Netlogo)