Mutual information in the Tangled Nature Model

TL;DR

This paper investigates mutual information in ecological networks within the Tangled Nature model, revealing how correlation measures vary with network definitions and indicating ecosystems' stability and adaptation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of mutual information in the Tangled Nature model, highlighting dual behaviors related to ecosystem stability and adaptation.

Findings

Mutual information increases in networks of viable species.

Mutual information decreases when considering the entire system.

Ecosystems can become more stable and better adapted simultaneously.

Abstract

We consider the concept of mutual information in ecological networks, and use this idea to analyse the Tangled Nature model of co-evolution. We show that this measure of correlation has two distinct behaviours depending on how we define the network in question: if we consider only the network of viable species this measure increases, whereas for the whole system it decreases. It is suggested that these are complimentary behaviours that show how ecosystems can become both more stable and better adapted.