Fragmentation modes and the evolution of life cycles
Fig 2
The optimal fragmentation mode is pure and characterised by binary fragmentation.
A Mixed fragmentation strategies are dominated. Here we show the empirical probability distribution of the growth rate of mixed fragmentation modes for n = 4 (generated from a sample of 107 randomly generated fragmentation modes) subject to the fitness landscape {b, d} = {(1, 2, 1.4), (0, 0, 0)}. The growth rates of all seven pure fragmentation modes for n = 4 are indicated by arrows. In this case, 2+2 achieves the maximal possible growth rate among all possible fragmentation modes. B Optimal fragmentation modes are characterised by binary splitting. Population growth rate (λ1) for all seven pure fragmentation modes for n = 4 subject to the fitness landscape {b, d} = {(1, b2, 1.4), (0, 0, 0)} as a function of the birth rate of groups of size 2, b2. Each of the four fragmentation modes characterised by binary fragmentation (1+1, 2+1, 2+2, and 3+1) can be optimal depending on the value of b2. Contrastingly, nonbinary fragmentation modes (1+1+1, 1+1+1+1, and 2+1+1) are never optimal.