Final answer:
Simulations offer advantages such as the ability to use numerical techniques to solve complex problems and visualize ecosystems, simplifying complex real-world systems, and reducing the need for animal testing. However, they must be backed by real-world data for accuracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advantage of a simulation compared to a traditional laboratory study is that a simulation can use numerical techniques to solve problems and visualize complex relationships within an ecosystem. Simulations can address both simple and complex linear systems that would be mathematically difficult to analyze directly. Moreover, simulations can provide a representation that is simpler than the real system, which makes it easier for scientists to study and understand the behavior of the system. In addition, simulations help reduce the need for animal testing by offering alternative research methods such as virtual drug trials and noninvasive imaging techniques.