Survival-extinction phase transition in a bit-string population with mutation

TL;DR

This paper investigates a bit-string model for haploid populations, revealing a phase transition between survival and extinction influenced by environmental and genetic factors, using theoretical and simulation methods.

Contribution

It introduces a phase transition analysis in a bit-string population model considering mutation, competition, and selection, combining mean field theory and Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Identifies a phase transition between survival and extinction states.

Shows environmental flexibility and genetic variability influence population fate.

Provides a theoretical and simulation-based understanding of population dynamics.

Abstract

A bit-string model for the evolution of a population of haploid organisms, subject to competition, reproduction with mutation and selection is studied, using mean field theory and Monte Carlo simulations. We show that, depending on environmental flexibility and genetic variability, the model exhibits a phase transtion between extinction and survival. The mean-field theory describes the infinite-size limit, while simulations are used to study quasi-stationary properties.