The Experiment Controller is used to start and pause experiments in the virtual biomes. Experiments consist of adding species to a virtual biome, starting time, and then monitoring the population of the selected species as a function of time. The green Play button is used to start time and the red Pause button is used to pause the experiment. The current time in the virtual biome as the experiment is running is displayed in a format of day, month, and elapsed years. The rate at which time proceeds is controlled with the “+” and “-“ Acceleration buttons, where time proceeds at a rate indicated on the Controller over a period of 10 seconds in real time. Lastly, the entire laboratory or just the time can be reset back to their beginning states using the Lab and Time buttons, respectively.