Modelling Artificial Ecosystem Selection: A Preliminary Investigation

The ability of whole ecosystems to respond to selection has recently been demonstrated in artificial selection experiments, [1,2]. As well as having wide-ranging practical applications, this result significantly broadens the application of theoretical concepts of the mechanisms of heritability and variation in biological systems. Simulation models have the potential to be useful tools for the investigation of these issues. Whilst related simulation work exists [3,4], ecosystem-level selection itself has yet to be modelled. This paper presents such a model, in which ecosystems are modelled as generalised Lotka-Volterra systems and are subject to a generational selection process. A positive response to selection for diversity is demonstrated, with the only sources of variation being sampling errors arising when ‘offspring’ ecosystems are produced.

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