Artificial endosymbiosis

Abstract

Symbiosis is the phenomenon in which organisms of different species live together in close association, resulting in a raised level of fitness for one or more of the organisms. Endosymbiosis is the name given to symbiotic relationships in which partners are contained within a host partner. In this paper we use a simulated model of coevolution to examine endosymbiosis and its effect on the evolutionary performance of the partners involved. We are then able to suggest the conditions under which endosymbioses are more likely to occur and why; we find they emerge between organisms within a window of their respective "chaotic gas regimes" and hence that the association represents a more stable state for the partners. An endosymbiosis’ effect on its other ecological partners’ evolution is also examined. The results are used as grounds for allowing endosymbioses to emerge within artificial coevolutionary multi-agent systems.