title: Segregation process and phase transition in cyclic predator-prey models with an even number of species.
abstract: We study a spatial cyclic predator-prey model with an even number of species (for n=4, 6, and 8) that allows the formation of two defensive alliances consisting of the even and odd label species. The species are distributed on the sites of a square lattice. The evolution of spatial distribution is governed by iteration of two elementary processes on neighboring sites chosen randomly: if the sites are occupied by a predator-prey pair then the predator invades the prey's site; otherwise the species exchange their sites with a probability X . For low X values, a self-organizing pattern is maintained by cyclic invasions. If X exceeds a threshold value, then two types of domain grow up that are formed by the odd and even label species, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations indicate the blocking of this segregation process within a range of X for n=8.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Technical Physics and Materials Science, P. O. Box 49, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szolnoki
authors.forename: Gustavo Ariel
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sznaider
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*