Artificial neural networks in models of specialization, guild evolution and sympatric speciation.

ABSTRACT: Sympatric speciation can arise as a result of disruptive selection with assortative mating as a pleiotropic by-product. Studies on host choice, employing artificial neural networks as models for the host recognition system in exploiters, illustrate how disruptive selection on host choice coupled with assortative mating can arise as a consequence of selection for specialization. Our studies demonstrate that a generalist exploiter population can evolve into a guild of specialists with an 'ideal free' frequency distribution across hosts. The ideal free distribution arises from variability in host suitability and density-dependent exploiter fitness on different host species. Specialists are less subject to inter-phenotypic competition than generalists and to harmful mutations that are common i

SUBMITTER: Holmgren NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2323561 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature