Activity #2: Predatory-Prey Relationships
Materials: Predator-Prey image folders (click here for digital images)
STEP 1: Now that you’ve explored different types of symbiosis—mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism—it’s time to look at another important kind of ecological interaction: predator-prey relationships. In this type of interaction, one organism (the predator) hunts, kills, and eats another organism (the prey). These relationships help regulate population sizes, drive adaptations like camouflage or speed, and maintain balance in ecosystems. As you study predator-prey dynamics, think about how they differ from symbiotic relationships and how both types of interactions shape the survival and behavior of species over time. Watch the video below and complete the summary in your workbook.
STEP 2: Now that you’ve learned about predator-prey relationships, it’s time to take what you know and apply it to artificial intelligence. You’ll be using Teachable Machine, a tool developed by Google that lets you train your own AI model without needing to write any code. Teachable Machine uses a type of machine learning where you “teach” the computer to recognize patterns by showing it different examples—in this case, images. The more examples you give it, the better it learns.Your task will be to train a model to recognize and classify animals as either predator or prey. Before we start building your model, watch the videos below carefully. They will show you how to use Teachable Machine and how to “train” it using labeled images. Watch the videos and complete the summaries in your workbook.
STEP 3: Now that you understand predator-prey relationships, you’ll use artificial intelligence to explore how machines can learn to recognize them—just like humans do. You’ll be using Teachable Machine, a simple web-based tool that lets you train an AI model using your webcam. Your goal is to create a model that can tell the difference between predators and prey by training it with sample images.
- Watch the tutorial video
Start by watching this video carefully.
It will show you how to use your webcam to train an image recognition model with Teachable Machine. - Start your project
Go to Teachable Machine and select “Image Project,” then choose “Standard Image Model.” - Train the ‘Prey’ class
Create a new class labeled Prey.
Use the folder labeled Prey Images and hold each image up to the webcam one at a time. Record all images, changing the angle, lighting, or distance slightly each time to help your AI learn more effectively. - Train the ‘Predator’ class
Create a second class labeled Predator.
Use the images in the Predator Images folder and repeat the process—hold each up to the webcam and record them with some variation. - Train your model
Once you’ve added enough images to both classes, click the Train Model button and let Teachable Machine build your AI. - Test your model
Use the Predator or Prey test folder. Hold up each mystery image to the webcam and see if your model correctly identifies it as a predator or prey. - Refine and retrain
If your model struggles with accuracy, go back and add more images, or replace unclear ones. Train again and retest until your model performs well Upload and share your model
When you are happy with your model, click Export Model, then select Upload My Model. Once uploaded, copy the shareable link and paste it into your workbook.
STEP 4: Now that you’ve trained your own AI model using image classification, take a moment to reflect on how this technology could be applied beyond just identifying predators and prey. How might AI like this be used in the real world to support biodiversity research and conservation efforts? Spend some time brainstorming creative and practical ideas. Think about how AI could help scientists, conservationists, or even everyday people monitor and protect ecosystems. List at least five different ways AI image classification could be used as a biodiversity conservation tool in your workbook.