Evolutionary freezing in a competitive population

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that in a competitive population of adaptive agents, evolution can abruptly stop due to a phase transition triggered by changes in resource levels, driven by decision-making and feedback mechanisms.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of evolutionary freezing in adaptive populations and explains its origin related to decision-making and feedback dynamics.

Findings

Evolution can abruptly halt in competitive populations.

The transition resembles a phase transition to a frozen state.

The origin is linked to decision-making, limited information, and feedback.

Abstract

We show that evolution in a population of adaptive agents, repeatedly competing for a limited resource, can come to an abrupt halt. This transition from evolutionary to non-evolutionary behavior arises as the global resource level is changed, and is reminiscent of a phase transition to a frozen state. Its origin lies in the inductive decision-making of the agents, the limited global information that they possess and the dynamical feedback inherent in the system.