Chaos and the evolution of cooperation

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Game Theory
• Mathematical Biology
• Complex Systems

Background:

• The iterated prisoner's dilemma is a key model for cooperation in biological societies.
• Simple strategies, defined by previous round outcomes, are explored in heterogeneous populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how simple strategies in evolutionary games can generate complex dynamics.
• To demonstrate the emergence of periodic and chaotic oscillations in cooperation levels.
• To explore the impact of mutation and specific strategies on evolutionary trajectories.

Main Methods:

• Simulations of a heterogeneous population using simple strategies in an iterated prisoner's dilemma framework.
• Analysis of strategy frequency dynamics and overall cooperation levels.
• Introduction of mutation and the

Main Results:

• Heterogeneous populations with simple strategies exhibit persistent periodic or chaotic oscillations in cooperation.
• Mutation can shift evolutionary dynamics from stable states to oscillations and chaos.
• The

Conclusions:

• Evolutionary games with simple strategies can display deterministic chaos, mirroring complex biological cycles.
• The