Network properties, species abundance and evolution in a model of evolutionary ecology.
We study the evolution of the network properties of a populated network embedded in a genotype space characterized by either a low or a high number of potential links, with particular emphasis on the connectivity and clustering. Evolution produces two distinct types of network. When a specific genotype is only able to influence a few other genotypes, the ecosystem consists of separate non-interacting clusters (i.e. isolated compartments) in genotype space. When different types may influence a large number of other sites, the network becomes one large interconnected cluster. The distribution of interaction strengths--but not the number of connections--changes significantly with time. We find that the species abundance is only realistic for a high level of species connectivity. This suggests that real ecosystems form one interconnected whole in which selection leads to stronger interactions between the different types. Analogies with niche and neutral theory and assembly models are also considered.
Anderson
Paul E
PE
Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, 180 Queen's Gate, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Jensen
Henrik Jeldtoft
HJ
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011157:Population Dynamics