MERLOT Materials

Box Dimension is a Java-applet based page that allows students to compute box-counting dimensions for a variety of... see more

The Aid Game is about giving charitable aid to developing countries. These countries may suffer the dual challenges of... see more

The Carbon Cycle uses an equilibration model to show how once fossil carbon is released into the air, it migrates into... see more

Diversity Metrics explores species diversity measures. Includes the species-area curve and the Shannon-Weaver index. Used... see more

Ecology is a construct-your-own-foodweb simulator, from a supplied collection of plants, herbivores, omnivores, and a top... see more

Aristid Lindenmayer, a botanist, invented L-Systems to describe plant development. L-Systems generates 2-d fractal... see more

2d DaisyWorld is the classic model, demonstrating homeostasis via ecosystem feedback loops (daisy albedo). DaisyWorld was... see more

DaisyWorld was invented to explain how the Gaia Hypothesis did not require a sentient Earth, but only feedback loops. 3d... see more

This lab introduces three basic concepts of population dynamics: exponential population growth, density independent... see more

Exploitation Ecosystems is an introduction to classical theory on 3-trophic level food chains, across a gradient of plant... see more

Foodweb Kerplunk is a game about species relationships. Playing as a town councilmember in suburban California, you try... see more

ForestNPP is a simple calculator that estimates forest net primary productivity, before and after climate change... see more

Fourier waveforms are built by adding sine waves, controlled by frequency/amplitude sliders similar to a graphic... see more

A series of applets for teaching Fractal Geometry. Includes: L-Systems; Box-Counting Fractal Dimension; Cellular... see more

Functional Response extends Predator/Prey (another Merlot learning tool) by adding Types I, II, and III functional... see more

Competition explores Lotka-Volterra Competition models, using twin plots, one displaying isoclines, and the other a time... see more

Metapopulation Models are stochastic models of populations of populations (islands and mainland, with and without a... see more

Population Growth provides 2 plots to help compare the different basic population growth models of Ecology. Multiple... see more

Predator/Prey uses isocline and time series plots to explore predator/prey coupled population equations. Starting from... see more

ScaredyWorld is a version of GrassWorld, a three-level food chain which includes two species of plants, an herbivore... see more

is a Predator/Prey isoclines model, exploring how enriching the prey environment (raising carrying capacity) can depress... see more

A pattern block editor, allowing students to create pictures with the standard block shapes. Can color the shapes,... see more

Population pyramids. Allows students to shift and change demographic rates, to better understand human population... see more

Disease demonstrates contagious disease spread through a population. Three diseases (Kold, Impfluenza, and Red Death) are... see more