Wildebeest migration

Simulations and Interactives>Biology>Wildebeest migration

Wildebeest migration

Simulation

Every year, more than a million wildebeest migrate around the Serengeti. Track them as they move, then vary the conditions to find out what really keeps the herd alive, and why they undertake such an arduous journey.

Pick your timescale: three years to learn the basics, or twenty years to investigate the limits of an ecosystem.

Instructions

This simulation has two levels. Start with Migration Basics to get a feel for how the herd moves, then move on to Carrying Capacity.

Migration basics

Visit each of the three areas — southern, western, and northern Serengeti — to see what species live there and where the herd is at that point in the year.
Zoom out to the console.
Set your variables: toggle migration on or off, toggle anthrax, and adjust the rainfall.
Run the simulation. Watch the herd move across the map and the greenery shift with the seasons over three years.
When the run finishes, observe the herd directly, set up another run with different variables for comparison, or head to the lab to view graphs of population, mortality, grass volume, rainfall, and temperature. You can also download the data as a spreadsheet.

Carrying capacity

Use the side panel to set the starting population, predation, competition, rainfall, anthrax, and disturbances like fire or flood.
Run the simulation and watch the population curve develop over the 20-year timeline.
Change the variables and run again — your new curve will layer on top of the previous one for comparison.
Visit the lab any time for more detailed data, or pause and step into the 3D Serengeti to see the herd up close.

Discussion questions

Describe how the wildebeest herd moved across the Serengeti over the three-year run with default settings.
Compare two runs with different variables. What did you observe?
Using evidence from your runs, explain why wildebeest migrate.