title: Speciation in multidimensional evolutionary space.
abstract: Adaptive dynamics in two-dimensional phenotype space is investigated by computer simulation. The model assumes Lotka-Voltera-type competition and a stochastic mutation process. The carrying capacity has a single maximum in the origin of the strategy space and the competition coefficient decreases with strategy difference. Evolutionary branching, an asexual analog of adaptive speciation, is observed with suitable parameters. The branching at the singular point, which is a fixed point of the directional evolution, may occur into two or three, but not more, directions. Further branchings may occur after the initial separation. The probability of three-branching is studied as a function of several parameters. We conclude that the two-way branching is the predominant mode of adaptive speciation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nonlinear and Quantum Optics, Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 49, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vukics
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asbóth
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meszéna
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D015996:Survival Rate