title: Assortative mating and mutation diffusion in spatial evolutionary systems.
abstract: The influence of spatial structure on the equilibrium properties of a sexual population model defined on networks is studied numerically. Using a small-world-like topology of the networks as an investigative tool, the contributions to the fitness of assortative mating and of global mutant spread properties are considered. Simple measures of nearest-neighbor correlations and speed of spread of mutants through the system have been used to confirm that both of these dynamics are important contributory factors to the fitness. It is found that assortative mating increases the fitness of populations. Quick global spread of favorable mutations is shown to be a key factor increasing the equilibrium fitness of populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Paley
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Taraskin
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005796:Genes; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D011336:Probability; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal