Population dynamic activity

Last week, we played a deer simulation game to observe how various factors would affect the deer population. The whole full class took a role either as a deer or a type of resource, and of course this role was not permanent.
In our first simulation, we started off with just few deers and abundant resources. Through generations, the change in the deer population was predictable: As resources were gradually being used up, the deer population flourished and reproduced. But as their population grew larger and resources became unavailable, competition between species begin to take place, known as intraspecfic competition. Subsequently, the depleting resources could not support the growing deer population. As they died, their body decomposed and eventually recycles back into the system to become resources. This accurately showed that there's a carrying capacity for populations, once it reaches its carrying capacity, its number would start to decrease.
In our next simulation, we introduced density-dependent and density-independent factors. These are things like flood, forest fire, drought (density independant), predation (density dependent) and etc. After several generations, the deer population decreased drastically, and was on the verge of extinction. This goes to explain as for why many species are in danger of extinction, for majority of the factors affecting its population are not density dependent.
Overall, this simulation was lots of fun, and it also accurately portrayed the behaviour of a species population in general. In a bigger picture, this simulation also reflect greatly about the human population.  In the near future, when our population reaches its carrying capacity, it really makes us worry for what would happen then. I guess this activity was a great way gets us to think about these things and become aware of them. On top of that, the "juvenile" play was insanely fun, just like back in summer camp. :)