Fluctuations and correlations in an individual-based model of biological coevolution

Authored by RKP Zia, PA Rikvold

Date Published: 2004

DOI: 10.1088/0305-4470/37/19/003

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

We extend our study of a simple model of biological coevolution to its statistical properties. Starting with a complete description in terms of a master equation, we provide its relation to the deterministic evolution equations used in previous investigations. The stationary states of the mutationless model are generally well approximated by Gaussian distributions, so that the fluctuations and correlations of the populations can be computed analytically. Several specific cases are studied by Monte Carlo simulations, and there is an excellent agreement between the data and the theoretical predictions.
Tags
Evolution Age Tangled nature Quasi-species model Punctuated equilibrium