title: From Lévy to Brownian: a computational model based on biological fluctuation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theoretical studies predict that Lévy walks maximizes the chance of encountering randomly distributed targets with a low density, but Brownian walks is favorable inside a patch of targets with high density. Recently, experimental data reports that some animals indeed show a Lévy and Brownian walk movement patterns when forage for foods in areas with low and high density. This paper presents a simple, Gaussian-noise utilizing computational model that can realize such behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We extend Lévy walks model of one of the simplest creature, Escherichia coli, based on biological fluctuation framework. We build a simulation of a simple, generic animal to observe whether Lévy or Brownian walks will be performed properly depends on the target density, and investigate the emergent behavior in a commonly faced patchy environment where the density alternates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the model, animal behavior of choosing Lévy or Brownian walk movement patterns based on the target density is able to be generated, without changing the essence of the stochastic property in Escherichia coli physiological mechanism as explained by related researches. The emergent behavior and its benefits in a patchy environment are also discussed. The model provides a framework for further investigation on the role of internal noise in realizing adaptive and efficient foraging behavior.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Japan. surya.gn@irl.sys.es.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Surya G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nurzaman
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kazumichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D004777:Environment; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005502:Food; D020387:Food Chain; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors