Ecology | Virtual Labs

“I don’t think there’s anyone who has the same expertise in-house that Labster has. I haven’t seen anyone else working in the field have this level.”

Dr. Philippos Savvides

Arizona State University

“Labster allows a dynamic visualization of chemical reactions so that students can practice and better understand these concepts.”

Dr. Sabine Matallana-Surget

Stirling University

“The virtual labs really help the students become familiar with the material before they engage in the class.”

Dr. Paul Kasili

Bunker Hill Community College

Ecology

Virtual Labs

Biodiversity: Assess and compare biodiversity on an exoplanet

Travel to the exoplanet Astakos IV and use ecological methods to assess and compare biodiversity over time and between different sites.

Competition: Learn to identify and quantify competition between species

Help the residents in Astakos IV to increase the yield of their crops by reducing the competition between different species.

The Nitrogen Cycle: Balance food demands and environmental concerns

Learn about the nitrogen cycle and help a local restaurant owner understand the complexities of sustainable crop production. Model nitrogen moving between stages of the cycle and then balance food production with environmental impact.

Thermal Effects on Marine Oxygen Levels

Become an environmental investigator and solve a massive fish kill mystery. Use a spectrophotometer to analyze oxygen levels in the water and unravel the mystery.

Landscape Ecology: Determine persistence in a spatially heterogeneous landscape

Discover unique areas within an exoplanet’s landscape and apply your findings to predict the persistence of an alien species by estimating colonization and extinction rates.

Food webs: Learn about interactions between trophic levels

Help reduce the impact from humans on an aquatic ecosystem on an exoplanet by using your knowledge of trophic cascades in a food web.

Population Growth: Lets catch some goslins!

Help ecologists devise a conservation strategy that will protect the goslin population on a newly discovered exoplanet, Astakos IV.

Ecosystem Dynamics: Assess the effect of fertilizers on the phosphorus cycle

Analyze the effects of fertilizers on the phosphorus cycle and help the residents in Astakos IV to increase their crop yield without compromising the environment.

Eutrophication

Utilize microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to solve a massive fish kill mystery. Investigate how dissolved nitrogen levels and an algal bloom are linked to the fish population.

Spatial Ecology: Learn how the environment can influence the distribution of species

Help the scientists on the exoplanet Astakos IV to choose the location of the new research center by finding out where it will have the least impact on the ecological diversity of the area.

Behavioral Thermoregulation: Help keep a gecksi alive!

Life is hard when you need to constantly work to maintain your body temperature and keep your energy levels in check. Think like a gecksi, make wise choices and try to keep the gecksi alive in three challenging environments!

Biomes: Identify and create the main biomes on Earth

Learn about the main biomes on Earth and where they are located with our new Biome Generator. You will be able to adjust different parameters to build your own biome and observe the result of your changes instantly!

Ecological niches: Choose the right Kuppelfang to bring to Earth!

Investigate why the Kuppelfangs died when transplanted to the new Astakos IV biodome on Earth. Quantify their realized and fundamental niche, and explore how acclimation affects the boundaries of a niche.

Environmental Impact of Coal Power Plants

Join the project manager Marie in her quest to uncover the environmental impacts of coal power plants and fish farming. Explore the issues with our current source of fuel and help Marie come up with a greener solution to save the environment.

Foraging: Build a foraging theory to save the crops

Join the human colony on the fictional exoplanet Astakos IV to study the local alien species. What do they eat?hy and where do they forage for food? Can you build a model using our foraging theories from Earth?

Trophic Levels: Grazer vs. predator

Experience first-hand how energy is transferred within a food web and between trophic levels. In this simulation, you will guide a zebra towards a feeding ground by interacting with organisms in different trophic levels.

Marine Biology: Investigate a massive fish death

Become an environmental investigator and solve a massive fish kill mystery. First, learn about the different trophic levels of the ecosystem. You will then perform a fish necropsy and use a spectrophotometer to analyze oxygen levels in the water.