Little Earth School (61)

The Little Earth School team (#61) is from Silver City. This year they've submitted a project titled Wolves' Survival.

Team Members

 * Lucca Chenault
 * Sean Shepherd
 * Busayo Maqubela

Sponsoring Teacher

 * Juli Curtis

Proposal
http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/get_proposal1112.php?team_id=61

Proposal: We are investigating wolves. We will study the gray wolves that live in New Mexico.

We will model a forest with several agents. The agents will be the: prey, humans, bears, and wolves. We are interested in the recent change in wolf habitat due to dry weather. We will model the wolves coming into the bear’s territory. Who will survive?

The result of our model will show how the bears and wolves react to being integrated into the ecosystem.

Interim Report
http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/get_interim1112.php?team_id=61

Problem Definition
We are investigating wolves and their environment. We will study the gray wolves that live in N.M. We will model a forest ecosystem with several agents the agents will be the gray wolves, the prey (rabbits), humans, and bears. We will study what will happen when rabbits, bears and humans are introduced into the wolves' habitat, and have to compete with one another for food (prey and plants) and shelter.

Problem Solution
Our Starlogo model will show the interaction of hunters, rabbits, wolves and bears interacting in the same habitat. The habitat consists of trees, shrubs and carrots. The habitat size is unknown. We want to create the best ecosystem for wolf long term survival, and will show what happens when different levels of wolves, humans, bears and rabbits are introduced into the wolf ecosystem.

Progress to Date
We have created a Wolf Survival program prototype, on StarLogo, to work from. We have created a habitat which includes: wolves, bears, humans, rabbits, trees, shrubs, and carrots. We can make simulations of different numbers of humans, bears, wolves and rabbits.

Expected Results
The results of our model will show what happens to the wolf population when different numbers of agents: bears, humans, and rabbits are introduced into the wolf habitat. It will also show what happens to the wolf habitat when different agents are introduced separately into the wolf habitat, or removed from it.

Resources we have used

 * 1) National Wolf Protective Society.com
 * 2) MexicanWolves.org
 * 3) Wolves and Other Dogs, by World Book’s Animals of the World
 * 4) Wolf Whiplash article in High Country News, May 30, 2011 by Hal Herring
 * 5) Possessing the Wild article in High Country News, November 14, 2011
 * 6) Decoding Wolf Speak article in National Geographic Kids

Introduction
Hello my name is Cesar E. Venegas I’m currently a senior at New Mexico Tech and I’m pursuing a degree in Petroleum Engineering. I will be graduating in May and I plan to begin working with in the oil industry as soon as I graduate. I chose Petroleum Engineering because there is a lot of opportunity to travel to world and experience different types of cultures. Also I feel it is important to gain a better understanding of Americans most important industry that affects every individual in this country.

Problem Statement
The problem statement focuses on wolves environment in New Mexico. The question is how does the environment effect the livelihood of these wolves. To me this is a focused problem in which the team clearly focuses their problem and proposes a solution which involves assistance from starlogo.

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Mathematical Method
The team proposes to use starlogo to produce analytically results as far as their problem goes. The interim reports does not clearly provide a mathematical method as to how the team will model the wolves within their environment. This may be a bit of a challenge considering it will be hard to implement a mathematical model on simple program. Although it will be very helpful if the group does include one.

[3/4]

Computational Method
As far as computational method goes the team provides an understanding of how they want to approach their problem. Using starlogo is a good start as far as computational method goes. Creating a environment in starlogo may not be very challenging but is a good match as far as modeling your problem goes.

[4/4]

Results and Conclusions
My only question is what do you expect to gain from the information that is produced? How will effect society and who will benefit from this information. From what your group has provided it seems like you have an understanding of what you expect to find from your project.

[4/4]

Code
As far as your coding goes using starlogo for to model is a perfectly fine your plan to model a environment and use various agents is very logical. The fact that you have already created a prototype show that you have an understanding of how to use the program. My comment is that as far as originality goes this type of program seems like its been done multiple times. This is perfectly fine because for the most part the majority of the people using starlogo will be using very similar codes. My advice would be try to make the program as unique as possible.

[3/4]