...We tried that Neo, you all died.
just as the Architect tells Neo in the sequel to the Matrix, NetLogo models predict that in a perfect world, everything dies.
* go to:
http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/
* download NetLogo
* click on 'File' then 'Models Library'
* open the 'Biology' folder
* choose the 'Wolf-Sheep Predation' model
* set grass growth time to 0 (ie. infinite resources).
* run.
* everything dies.
basically, with infinite resources, the wolf population reaches a critical mass such that wolves are able to eat sheep faster than sheep can reproduce, and once all the sheep are dead the wolves die. Only the grass grows on.
Even with sheep reproduction rate at max, and wolf reproduction rate at minimum, this happens; it just takes longer. This is because there is never hunger to kill off excess wolves, and so they just continue to populate until they can eat sheep quicker than sheep can breed.
Ironically, it is limits on sheep's resources that saves their own lives.
OT: but Mr. Architect, why can't you make a perfect world?
Threaded Mode