Skulking cautiously through Quebec’s forests, Université Laval ecologist David Bolduc experiences the adrenaline rush of foraging for resources while evading predators. Bolduc and a team of researchers, along with international students, converged at the Éco-Laurentides park near Val-Morin to engage in a predator-prey game, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of nature’s hunters and hunted.
The game, a form of tag with survival at its core, aimed to mimic the predator-prey relationships seen in wildlife. Their study, detailed in the open-source journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution, highlighted the parallels between human behavior and that of animals like wolves and deer, showcasing shared survival strategies.
While hailed as an innovative approach to understanding ecosystems, experts caution that the game’s limitations prevent direct extrapolation to real-world animal interactions, where the stakes are life and death. The experiment, conducted in July 2023, divided participants into prey, mesopredators, and apex predators, simulating the dynamics of resource acquisition and predation.
By utilizing this game as a platform, scientists can explore diverse scenarios and study predator-prey dynamics with controlled variables. Ultimately, the findings serve as a stepping stone for further observations in natural habitats, enhancing our comprehension of wildlife behavior.
The study’s unique methodology not only provides insights into predator-prey interactions but also serves as an educational tool, fostering discussions on ecological theories and animal behavior. Bolduc emphasizes the game’s role in offering a fresh perspective on ecological concepts and facilitating engaging learning experiences.
