Stage 3: Re-casting the model diagram

The present model is based on a number of assumptions that are biologically unsound. For example, it assumes that the number of rabbits eaten per fox is directly proportional to the number of rabbits, so doubling the number of rabbits doubles the number eaten per fox — even if there are millions of rabbits around!

We will tackle the problem of making the model more biologically realistic in two stages. First, we will change the model diagram a little, adding in a couple of variables and changing the influence arrows, but retaining the same mathematical structure: the revised model should produce exactly the same results. These changes provide more appropriate handles in our model for expressing biologically-meaningful relationships. Then, in the following stage, we will replace some of the simplistic assumptions in this model with others that are biologically more realistic.