{"id":401,"date":"2025-03-21T21:50:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T21:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/?page_id=401"},"modified":"2025-03-25T22:55:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T22:55:02","slug":"raise-modeling-killer-whales","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/raise-modeling-killer-whales\/","title":{"rendered":"RAISE &#8211; Modeling killer whales"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='breakdance'><section class=\"bde-section-401-100 bde-section\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section-container\"><div class=\"bde-columns-401-105 bde-columns\"><div class=\"bde-column-401-106 bde-column\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bde-text-401-102 bde-text\">\nUAA College of Engineering\n<\/div><h1 class=\"bde-heading-401-103 bde-heading\">\nAgent-based modeling of killer whales and their prey\n<\/h1><div class=\"bde-text-401-109 bde-text\">\nA collaborative project led by: Ward Testa, Kenrick Mock, Cameron Taylor, Heather Koyuk, Jessica Coyle, Russell Waggoner\n<\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"bde-column-401-107 bde-column\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bde-image2-401-108 bde-image2\" src=\"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-8-768x576.jpg\" alt=\"Agent-based modeling of the dynamics of mammal-eating killer whales and their prey\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-8-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-entrance=\"fade\">\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"bde-section-401-193 bde-section\">\n              \n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bde-image2-401-196 bde-image2\" src=\"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CollegeOfEngineering-GG-1536x314-1.png\" alt=\"UAA College of Engineering Logo\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CollegeOfEngineering-GG-1536x314-1.png 1536w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CollegeOfEngineering-GG-1536x314-1-300x61.png 300w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CollegeOfEngineering-GG-1536x314-1-1024x209.png 1024w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CollegeOfEngineering-GG-1536x314-1-768x157.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"><\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"bde-section-401-176 bde-section\" data-entrance=\"zoomOut\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section-container\"><div class=\"bde-columns-401-183 bde-columns\"><div class=\"bde-column-401-184 bde-column\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"bde-image2-401-191 bde-image2\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=UTF-8,%3csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; width=&#039;540&#039; height=&#039;540&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 140 140&#039;%3e%3cpath d=&#039;M0 0h140v140H0z&#039; fill=&#039;%23e5e7eb&#039;\/%3e%3cpath d=&#039;M88 82.46H51.8v-4.52l6.74-6.74a1.13 1.13 0 011.6 0l5.23 5.23 12.76-12.77a1.13 1.13 0 011.6 0L88 71.91z&#039; fill=&#039;%23e5e7eb&#039;\/%3e%3cpath d=&#039;M89.48 52.32H50.29a4.52 4.52 0 00-4.52 4.52V84a4.53 4.53 0 004.52 4.52h39.19A4.52 4.52 0 0094 84V56.84a4.52 4.52 0 00-4.52-4.52zm-33.16 5.27a5.28 5.28 0 11-5.27 5.28 5.27 5.27 0 015.27-5.28zM88 82.46H51.8v-4.52l6.74-6.74a1.13 1.13 0 011.6 0l5.23 5.23 12.76-12.77a1.13 1.13 0 011.6 0L88 71.91z&#039; fill=&#039;%23d1d5db&#039;\/%3e%3c\/svg%3e\" alt=\"Agent-based modeling of the dynamics of mammal-eating killer whales and their prey\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-21.png 1024w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-21-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Untitled-21-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" data-entrance=\"fade\" data-parallax=\"true\">\n<\/div><div class=\"bde-column-401-185 bde-column\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"bde-heading-401-186 bde-heading\" data-entrance=\"slideRight\">\nAgent-Based Modeling of Marine Predator-Prey Dynamics: Insights Into Killer Whale Ecosystems\n<\/h1><div class=\"bde-text-401-187 bde-text\">\nBridging Ecological Complexity Through Computational Simulation\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"bde-section-401-188 bde-section\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section-container\"><div class=\"bde-text-401-189 bde-text\">\nThis research project investigates the role of transient killer whales in Alaska's marine ecosystem dynamics, particularly their impact on declining prey populations. By developing an agent-based model (ABM) that surpasses classical predator-prey frameworks, we reveal intricate ecological relationships obscured by traditional differential equation approaches<br><br>The model was calibrated with single-prey scenarios and then extended to multi-prey scenarios, revealing complex dynamics and long time lags that may reveal clues about existing killer whale populations.<br><br>The project challenges classical Lotka-Volterra predator-prey models by incorporating:<ul><br><li>Individual whale biology: Age, sex, mass, reproductive status, and kinship tracking<\/li><br><li>Energetic demands: Field metabolic rates (405.39 kcal baseline) and prey-to-energy conversion efficiencies (85% for prey, 95% for milk)<\/li><br><li>Group hunting dynamics: Pod associations and age-dependent hunting effectiveness (full capacity at age 12)<\/li><br><li>Multi-prey interactions: Harbor seals, Steller sea lions, and seasonal whale populations<\/li><\/ul><br>The model revealed 30-year population oscillation cycles and identified critical thresholds where prey depletion triggers cascading ecosystem impacts.\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"bde-section-401-197 bde-section\">\n  \n  \n\t\n\n\n\n<div class=\"section-container\"><h1 class=\"bde-heading-401-198 bde-heading\">\nFrequently Asked Questions\n<\/h1><div class=\"bde-frequently-asked-questions-401-199 bde-frequently-asked-questions\">\n      <div class=\"bde-faq__item\">\n      <h3 class=\"bde-faq__title-tag\">\n       <button id=\"bde-faq-199-button-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"bde-faq-199-1\" class=\"bde-faq__question js-faq-item\">\n          <span class=\"bde-faq__title\">Why use agent-based modeling instead of classical approaches?<\/span>\n                           <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--inactive\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.998 0 5.517-4.48 9.997-9.998 9.997-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.997 0-5.518 4.48-9.998 9.997-9.998zm-.747 9.25h-3.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h3.5v3.5c0 .414.336.75.75.75s.75-.336.75-.75v-3.5h3.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75h-3.5v-3.5c0-.414-.336-.75-.75-.75s-.75.336-.75.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n         \t  <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--active\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2.005c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.997 0 5.518-4.48 9.998-9.998 9.998-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.998 0-5.517 4.48-9.997 9.997-9.997zm4.253 9.25h-8.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h8.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                  <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"bde-faq-199-button-1\" id=\"bde-faq-199-1\" class=\"bde-faq__answer\">\n        <div class=\"bde-faq__answer-content\">\n            <div class=\"breakdance-rich-text-styles\"><p>Traditional models couldn\u2019t simulate individual whale energetics (e.g., 4,000kg male target mass) or group hunting behaviors critical to transient orca predation strategies.<\/p><\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"bde-faq__item\">\n      <h3 class=\"bde-faq__title-tag\">\n       <button id=\"bde-faq-199-button-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"bde-faq-199-2\" class=\"bde-faq__question js-faq-item\">\n          <span class=\"bde-faq__title\">What conservation insights emerged?<\/span>\n                           <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--inactive\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.998 0 5.517-4.48 9.997-9.998 9.997-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.997 0-5.518 4.48-9.998 9.997-9.998zm-.747 9.25h-3.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h3.5v3.5c0 .414.336.75.75.75s.75-.336.75-.75v-3.5h3.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75h-3.5v-3.5c0-.414-.336-.75-.75-.75s-.75.336-.75.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n         \t  <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--active\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2.005c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.997 0 5.518-4.48 9.998-9.998 9.998-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.998 0-5.517 4.48-9.997 9.997-9.997zm4.253 9.25h-8.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h8.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                  <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"bde-faq-199-button-2\" id=\"bde-faq-199-2\" class=\"bde-faq__answer\">\n        <div class=\"bde-faq__answer-content\">\n            <div class=\"breakdance-rich-text-styles\"><p class=\"my-0\">The model identified:<\/p><ul><li class=\"my-0\">Critical prey density thresholds for killer whale survival<\/li><li class=\"my-0\">Delayed recovery timelines post-prey collapse<\/li><li class=\"my-0\">Milk dependency curves guiding calf survival (logistic a=6.1, b=-0.02)<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"bde-faq__item\">\n      <h3 class=\"bde-faq__title-tag\">\n       <button id=\"bde-faq-199-button-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"bde-faq-199-3\" class=\"bde-faq__question js-faq-item\">\n          <span class=\"bde-faq__title\">Where can I access the full model?<\/span>\n                           <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--inactive\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.998 0 5.517-4.48 9.997-9.998 9.997-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.997 0-5.518 4.48-9.998 9.997-9.998zm-.747 9.25h-3.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h3.5v3.5c0 .414.336.75.75.75s.75-.336.75-.75v-3.5h3.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75h-3.5v-3.5c0-.414-.336-.75-.75-.75s-.75.336-.75.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n         \t  <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--active\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2.005c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.997 0 5.518-4.48 9.998-9.998 9.998-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.998 0-5.517 4.48-9.997 9.997-9.997zm4.253 9.25h-8.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h8.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                  <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"bde-faq-199-button-3\" id=\"bde-faq-199-3\" class=\"bde-faq__answer\">\n        <div class=\"bde-faq__answer-content\">\n            <div class=\"breakdance-rich-text-styles\"><p>Model code and documentation remain available at:<br \/><a class=\"break-word hover:text-super hover:decoration-super dark:hover:text-superDark dark:hover:decoration-superDark underline decoration-from-font underline-offset-1 transition-all duration-300\" href=\"http:\/\/www.math.uaa.alaska.edu\/~orca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">http:\/\/www.math.uaa.alaska.edu\/~orca\/<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <div class=\"bde-faq__item\">\n      <h3 class=\"bde-faq__title-tag\">\n       <button id=\"bde-faq-199-button-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"bde-faq-199-4\" class=\"bde-faq__question js-faq-item\">\n          <span class=\"bde-faq__title\">Who is leading this research?<\/span>\n                           <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--inactive\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.998 0 5.517-4.48 9.997-9.998 9.997-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.997 0-5.518 4.48-9.998 9.997-9.998zm-.747 9.25h-3.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h3.5v3.5c0 .414.336.75.75.75s.75-.336.75-.75v-3.5h3.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75h-3.5v-3.5c0-.414-.336-.75-.75-.75s-.75.336-.75.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n         \t  <div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"bde-faq__icon bde-faq__icon--active\">\n                                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-miterlimit=\"2\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"m12.002 2.005c5.518 0 9.998 4.48 9.998 9.997 0 5.518-4.48 9.998-9.998 9.998-5.517 0-9.997-4.48-9.997-9.998 0-5.517 4.48-9.997 9.997-9.997zm4.253 9.25h-8.5c-.414 0-.75.336-.75.75s.336.75.75.75h8.5c.414 0 .75-.336.75-.75s-.336-.75-.75-.75z\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"\/><\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                  <\/button>\n      <\/h3>\n      <div role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"bde-faq-199-button-4\" id=\"bde-faq-199-4\" class=\"bde-faq__answer\">\n        <div class=\"bde-faq__answer-content\">\n            <div class=\"breakdance-rich-text-styles\"><p>This collaborative project is led by <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ward Testa, Kenrick Mock, Cameron Taylor, Heather Koyuk, Jessica Coyle, Russell Waggoner<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UAA College of Engineering Agent-based modeling of killer whales and their prey A collaborative project led by: Ward Testa, Kenrick Mock, Cameron Taylor, Heather Koyuk, Jessica Coyle, Russell Waggoner Agent-Based Modeling of Marine Predator-Prey Dynamics: Insights Into Killer Whale Ecosystems Bridging Ecological Complexity Through Computational Simulation This research project investigates the role of transient killer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-401","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=401"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":476,"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/401\/revisions\/476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coeng.uaa.alaska.edu\/AI\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}