Abstract

Citation

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Kennedy, L. (2022). 6-025-WhalesAndKrill-ModelingScenario. SIMIODE, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/GMVA-5C29

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Article Context

Description

Students are asked to explain terms in the system of differential equations, compute population values using iteration without a spreadsheet. Then they will implement the simulation in Excel and create charts to observe qualitative behavior.

Throughout this handout, there are activities to be done and questions to be answered. In a separate document (Microsoft Word,LaTeX, etc), answer the questions and include charts where indicated. You must also submit an electronic copy of your Excel spreadsheet at the end of the project.

One of the favorite foods of the blue whale is krill. Blue whales are baleen whales and feed almost exclusively on krill. These tiny shrimp-like creatures are devoured in massive amounts to provide the principal food source for the huge whales. In the absence of predators, in uncrowded conditions, the krill population density grows at a rate of 25% per year. The presence of 500 tons/acre of krill increases the blue whale population growth rate by 2% per year, and the presence of 150,000 blue whales decreases krill growth rate by 10% per year. The population of blue whales decreases at a rate of 5% per year in the absence of krill.