Abstract
Using a stochastic model, we investigate the probability of fixation, and the average time taken to achieve fixation, of a mutant in a population of wild-types. We do this in a context where the environment in which the competition takes place is subject to stochastic change. Our model takes into account interactions which can involve multiple participants. That is, the participants take part in multiplayer games. We find that under certain circumstances, there are environmental switching dynamics which minimize the time that it takes for the mutants to fixate. To analyse the dynamics more closely, we develop a method by which to calculate the sojourn times for general birth–death processes in fluctuating environments.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 172176 |
| Journal | Royal Society Open Science |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 21 Mar 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Mar 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018 The Authors.
Data Availability Statement
The computer codes used to produce the data in the figures are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/j4rzkgvdjb.1.Acknowledgements
We thank Pete(r) Ashcroft for discussions.Funding
J.W.B. acknowledges a studentship by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC UK, grant no. EP/N509565/1).
Keywords
- Evolutionary games
- Fixation dynamics
- Sojourn times
- Switching environments
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General