Stochastic payoff evaluation increases the temperature of selection.
We study stochastic evolutionary game dynamics in populations of finite size. Moreover, each individual has a randomly distributed number of interactions with other individuals. Therefore, the payoff of two individuals using the same strategy can be different. The resulting "payoff stochasticity" reduces the intensity of selection and therefore increases the temperature of selection. A simple mean-field approximation is derived that captures the average effect of the payoff stochasticity. Correction terms to the mean-field theory are computed and discussed.
Traulsen
Arne
A
Program for Evolutionary Dynamics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. traulsen@fas.harvard.edu
Nowak
Martin A
MA
Pacheco
Jorge M
JM
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005716:Game Theory; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013269:Stochastic Processes