https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050410
Competing species dynamics: Qualitative advantage versus geography
1
Laboratoire des Milieux Désordonnés et
Hétérogènes (Laboratoire associé au CNRS (UMR n
800) et à l'Université P. et M. Curie, Paris 6.) , Tour 13 - Case 86,
4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
2
Département d'Informatique, University of Geneva,
24 rue Général-Dufour, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
3
Département de Physique Théorique, University of Geneva,
24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
Corresponding author: a galam@ccr.jussieu.fr
Received:
21
April
1998
Accepted:
22
April
1998
Published online: 15 August 1998
A simple cellular automata model for a two-group war over the same "territory" is presented. It is shown that a qualitative advantage is not enough for a minority to win. A spatial organization as well a definite degree of aggressiveness are instrumental to overcome a less fitted majority. The model applies to a large spectrum of competing groups: smoker-non smoker war, epidemic spreading, opinion formation, competition for industrial standards and species evolution. In the last case, it provides a new explanation for punctuated equilibria.
PACS: 01.75.+m – Science and society / 05.50.+q – Lattice theory and statistics; Ising problems / 89.90.+n – Other areas of general interest to physicists
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 1998
