This simulation allows various factors to evolve in a largish (100K-500K) population of individuals.
Interestingly, the species develops into something like mosquitoes. Most of the population is female, it has rapid maturity and gestation, and a relatively long life span.
Starting from a moderate level (50%), the population maintains a low level (10%) of individuals with a moderate inimical behaviour toward the opposite sex. (In this model both sexes can "damage" the other during mating; preventing further matings until after a "repair period" determined from the difference between the attacker's ferocity and the defender's ability to repel the attack).
From an initial population with average immaturity, gestation and lifetime of around 15 time units, the population evolves to have a gestation time and immaturity period of around 5.5 units, and a lifetime of around 31 units (the maximum available in the "physics" of this model).
Attack ferocity (by either sex) evolves from an initial value equivalent to damaging the mating partner for 5 time units toward a value of 1-2 time units. Defence capability evolves from a value equivalent to healing the most ferocious attacks within 25 time units through a value that will succumb to an average attack for 4 time units, to a value where all but the most ferocious attacks will have no impact.
Simple simulation program (450 lines of C).
Also see: Sex wars drive evolution, "The Scientist", Jun 26, 2003.
birth rate | death rate |
prop male | prop female |
offspring similar to either parent | offspring more like mother |
offspring more like father | avg children per birth |
avg gestation | avg development time |
avg longevity | prop females pregnant |
prop immature young | avg attack |
avg defence | prop damaged |