title: Extinction dynamics of Lotka-Volterra ecosystems on evolving networks.
abstract: We study a model of a multispecies ecosystem described by Lotka-Volterra-like equations. Interactions among species form a network whose evolution is determined by the dynamics of the model. Numerical simulations show power-law distribution of intervals between extinctions, but only for ecosystems with sufficient variability of species and with networks of connectivity above certain threshold that is very close to the percolation threshold of the network. The effect of slow environmental changes on extinction dynamics, degree distribution of the network of interspecies interactions, and some emergent properties of our model are also examined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Geneva, CH 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coppex
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Droz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lipowski
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D020387:Food Chain; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013534:Survival; D016019:Survival Analysis