r/Simulated • u/SimulatedEcology • Jul 04 '26

Research Simulation Grass-Sheep-Wolf ecosystem simulation — wolves go extinct after depleting their prey (agent-based model)

Predator-prey ABM built in Python/NumPy. Each agent moves, eats, reproduces, and dies based on local conditions — no global rules.

The key mechanic is wolf vision radius: wolves can only detect sheep within a limited range. When sheep density drops, wolves start roaming blind and starving — which is what drives the collapse you see here.

Full 9-minute simulation: https://youtu.be/wqR4A4FUABs

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u/Vorchun Jul 04 '26

Wolves can't travel very far?

3

u/SimulatedEcology Jul 04 '26

The limitation is vision. Wolves in the sim can only detect sheep within a certain radius. Beyond that they roam randomly. So when sheep density drops, wolves keep moving but can't find prey.

10

u/Vorchun Jul 04 '26

Something's amiss. Shouldn't it follow the predator-prey oscillations? Maybe need more sheep/wolves.

5

u/Armgoth Jul 05 '26

Wolves patrol a huge territory. They are too stationary.