biology

Behavioral Ecology & Animal Strategy

The science of animal strategies — optimal foraging theory, hawk-dove evolutionary games, kin selection and altruism, predator-prey behavioral dynamics, and territory defense economics.

behavioral ecologyanimal behaviorforaginghawk-dovekin selectionpredator-preyterritorygame theory

Behavioral ecology investigates how natural selection shapes animal behavior in ecological contexts. From a bee choosing which flowers to visit to a lion defending its territory, organisms constantly make strategic decisions that affect survival and reproduction. Game theory, optimization models, and evolutionary dynamics provide the mathematical backbone for understanding why animals behave the way they do.

These simulations let you explore optimal foraging decisions, play hawk-dove evolutionary games, model kin selection and Hamilton's rule, simulate predator-prey behavioral arms races, and calculate territory defense trade-offs — all with real-time interactive controls and biologically grounded equations.

5 interactive simulations

simulator

Hawk-Dove Evolutionary Game

Play the hawk-dove game — adjust resource value, injury cost, display cost, and initial hawk fraction to watch evolutionary dynamics converge to the ESS mixed strategy

simulator

Kin Selection & Hamilton's Rule

Model kin selection and altruism — adjust relatedness, benefit to recipient, cost to altruist, and group size to explore when self-sacrifice evolves through inclusive fitness

simulator

Optimal Foraging Theory

Simulate optimal foraging decisions — adjust prey energy value, handling time, encounter rate, and travel cost to find when a forager should be selective vs. generalist

simulator

Predator-Prey Behavioral Strategy

Simulate predator-prey behavioral arms races — adjust predator speed, prey vigilance, group size, and escape probability to model the landscape of fear and optimal anti-predator behavior

simulator

Territory Defense Economics

Model territory defense trade-offs — adjust territory size, resource density, defense cost, and intruder pressure to find the economically optimal territory size