Evolution Lab

An interactive simulator for exploring evolution and population ecology.

Evolution Lab is a small artificial ecosystem where plants grow, creatures feed and reproduce, and inherited traits can change across generations. Set up an experiment, watch populations change, and inspect the individuals behind the data.

The project grew out of my personal curiosity about how evolution works and how species influence one another within an ecosystem. I created it to make those questions tangible: change a condition, observe the results, and discover what you want to investigate next.

There are no levels to complete or victory conditions. Evolution Lab is a space for scientific exploration and curiosity.

Free Web Demo: Lab A

Play directly in your browser. Lab A introduces plants, prey, and common predators in a world with two environmental zones. Adjust seven basic settings, introduce predators, and observe how populations and inherited traits change over time.

The demo includes population graphs, three trait histograms, individual inspection, and options to save experiments and export data as CSV.

Full Version: Labs A, B, and C

The paid Windows version includes the complete simulation and more ways to experiment:

• Lab B: Open Laboratory: Add apex predators and a small population of aquatic creatures that live in the river. Explore inherited traits such as plant defense, moisture preference, predator adaptations, and aquatic diet, which can range from herbivorous to carnivorous. Test drought, shelters, and a wider range of population and environmental settings.
• Lab C: Ecosystem Workshop: Use selectable brushes to introduce organisms and reshape the world. Paint rivers, ordinary ground, and shelters by dragging across the map. Build separated habitats, change access to water, or create island-like scenarios.
• A closer look at life: Select an organism to see an enlarged portrait and inspect how its visible features relate to its traits. Compare population trends and trait distributions, then save experiments or export the results for further analysis.

Try creating conditions that may produce directional, stabilizing, or disruptive selection. Explore population growth, resource limits, carrying capacity, predation, and the effects of changing a habitat.

Evolution Lab uses simplified rules rather than attempting to predict real ecosystems. Its organisms and outcomes are designed to help you ask questions, compare scenarios, and observe what can emerge from variation, inheritance, and ecological interactions.

Proceeds from Evolution Lab will go toward developing new simulators.

Languages: English and Spanish
Free Demo: Play in browser
Full Version: Windows download