Modelling animal contests based on spatio-temporal dynamics.

ABSTRACT: We present a general theoretical model for the spatio-temporal dynamics of animal contests. Inspired by interactions between physical particles, the model is formulated in terms of effective interaction potentials, which map typical elements of contest behaviour into empirically verifiable rules of contestant motion. This allows us to simulate the observable dynamics of contests in various realistic scenarios, notably in dyadic contests over a localized resource. Assessment strategies previously formulated in game-theoretic models, as well as the effects of fighting costs, can be described as variations in our model's parameters. Furthermore, the trends of contest duration associated with these assessment strategies can be derived and understood within the model. Detailed description of th

SUBMITTER: Haluts A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10206449 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature