Required Software

To open these system models, you will need to have installed Vensim PLE which is a free simulation software including agent modeling.

To run the model you clink "Synthesim" and you would be able to adjust any of the variables and factors in the model. To adjust parameters such as the "Bee Birth Factor", move the scale with the mouse cursor and move it left to right and vice versa.

Model 1: The Bee Population

In this model, the only quantity are bees which have an intial amount of five bees. There is a birth rate of .16 and a death rate of .1. We have represented the population of only bees in this model by subtracting the amount of the "Decrease in Bees" from the "Increase in Bees." To find the "Increase in Bees," we used the equation of multiplying the "Bee Birth Factor" by the "Bee Population. To find the the "Decrease in Bees," we multiplied the "Bee Death Factor" with the "Bee Population."

Model 2: Bees and Flowers with Interaction

In this model, we have added in the "Flower Population" and how it can affect the population of the bees and vice versa. Our "Flower Population" is set up exactly as the "Bee Population Model." The intial amount of the "Flower Population" is five flowers. The changes in this model is that we conected the "Bee Population" and the "Flower Population" by showing how each other can cause an increase in bees and flowers. Another minor change is that we changed the inital value of the bees to only one bee. Now the "Increase in Bees" equation is changed to "Bee Birth Factor" times "Bee Population" times "Flower Population" and the "Increase in Flowers" is "Flower Birth Factor" muliplied by "Flower Population" multiplied by "Bee Population."

Model 3: Bees and Flowers with Interaction and Pollination

In this model, we continue with our connecting "Bee Population" and "Flower Population." Now in this final stage, we have added a "Pollination Decline" factor that causes a decrease in both a "Decrease in Bees" and a "Decrease in Flowers." The equation for the "Pollination Factor" is 4.Because of this change, the equation to the "Decrease in Bees" is (Bee Death Factor*Bee Population)/Pollination Decline and the equation to the "Decrease in Flowers" is (Flower Death Factor*Flower Population)/Pollination Decline.