On 28/09/12 21:32, Jim Apto wrote:
I'm relatively new to python, and was asked to program a lotka-volterra
model (predator and prey relation) simulator.
No idea what that means in practice but commenting purely on the code
provided...
x represents prey population
y represents predator population
so use names that say so, like preyPop and predatorPop
Its only a few extra letters typing but makes things much more readable.
dy/dt and dx/dt represents growth rate of the two populations over time
t represents time
a is the growth rate of prey
so call it preyGrowth?
b is the rate at which predators kill prey
or killRate?
you get the idea...
g is the death rate of predators
d is the rate at which the predators population increases by consuming prey
The equation:
dx/dt = x(a-by)
dy/dt = -y(g-dx)
The code I have for this section is:
def deltaX(a,b,x,y):
dx = x*(a-b*y)
Normally you define a function such that it returns a value. Here you
simply define a local variable(dx), assign a value then throw it way
when the function finishes. You probably want:
def deltaX(a,b,x,y):
return x*(a-b*y)
def deltaY(g,d,x,y):
dy = -y*(g-d*x)
same here
The simulation function is where I am having trouble.
possibly because of some of the things above?
For the simulation function, I need to ask the user for the number of
runs and then save it in a variable, create a list for prey and
predator.
For each run, i need to calculate the increment of change in
prey and predator populations by calling the deltaX and deltaY
functions, then save these in a variable, and then update the population
information.
> The newly calculated populations then need to be added to
the existing lists. After this is completed, a function for the graph
is called.
So three basic blocks of code required? Is your function structured like
that? Which blocks work? Which ones don't? Can you test (eg print) each
block separately? Hint: Can each block be a function?
The following is my current simulation function:
def simulation():
a=eval(input("Growth rate of prey:"))
b=eval(input("Rate at which predators eat prey:"))
g=eval(input("Death rate of predators:"))
d=eval(input("Rate at which predators increase by consuming prey:"))
x=eval(input("Current prey population:"))
y=eval(input("Current predator population:"))
Don't use eval.... convert types directly using int() or float()
Convert the above to a standalone function getSimulationData() or
somesuch that returns the validated and converted input values.
Test it.
deltaX(a,b,x,y)
deltaY(g,d,x,y)
Here are the calls with no return values and so have no effect.
They are effectively wasted space. You need something like
dx = deltaX(a,b,x,y)
dy = deltaY(g,d,x,y)
after adding return statements as described above.
n=eval(input("Number of runs:")
r = 0
The indentation suggests you are missing a loop structure somewhere?
count=0
yList = [0]
while r <= n:
r = r + 1
count = count + 1
yList.append(dx + dx)
dx does not exist as you wrote it, you need the changes above...
But even then you are adding the same value (2dx) each time,
is that right?
zList= [0]
while r <= n:
r = r + 1
count = count +1
zList.append(dy + dy)
Same applies for dy.
It seems terribly wrong.
Yep, I'm pretty sure it is wrong. Also I'd try putting it into a
separate function, populateData() maybe?
The simulate looks like:
def simulate:
a,b,g,d,x,y = getSimulationData()
xList,YList = populateData(a,b,g,d,x,y)
drawCurve(yList,xList)
The following is my graph function:
def drawCurve(yList,zList,n):
x = pylab.arange(n)
pylab.title("Foxes and Rabbits")
pylab.ylabel("Number of predator (Foxes)")
pylab.xlabel("\nNumber of prey (Rabbits)")
pylab.plot(x, yList, 'b')
pylab.plot(x, zList, 'r')
pylab.legend(('Rabbits','Foxes'),loc='upper left')
pylab.show()
I don't use pyLab so will assume that is all OK...
The issue i'm having is the logic in the lists.
The biggest issue is the naming and location of your variables and how
you assign values to them (via returns from functions). Fix that first
and things will start to improve.
--
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
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