Pruning to Increase Taylor Dispersion in Physarum polycephalum Networks

TL;DR

This study shows that pruning in Physarum polycephalum's network significantly enhances particle dispersion by leveraging Taylor dispersion, with topology changes having a greater impact than radius hierarchy adjustments.

Contribution

It reveals that pruning in biological networks can substantially increase dispersion by exploiting Taylor dispersion, highlighting the importance of topology over geometry.

Findings

Pruning causes a large increase in effective dispersion.

Topology changes have a greater impact than radius hierarchy.

Pruned networks utilize Taylor dispersion to enhance dispersion.

Abstract

How do the topology and geometry of a tubular network affect the spread of particles within fluid flows? We investigate patterns of effective dispersion in the hierarchical, biological transport network formed by Physarum polycephalum. We demonstrate that a change in topology - pruning in the foraging state - causes a large increase in effective dispersion throughout the network. By comparison, changes in the hierarchy of tube radii result in smaller and more localized differences. Pruned networks capitalize on Taylor dispersion to increase the dispersion capability.