Simulation of geographical trends in the Chowdhury ecosystem model

A computer simulation based on individual births and deaths gives a biodiversity increasing from cold to warm climates, in agreement with reality. Complexity of foodwebs increases with time and at a higher rate at low latitudes, and there is a higher rate of species creation at low latitudes. Keeping many niches empty makes the results correspond more closely to natural gradients

SIMULATION OF GEOGRAPHICAL TRENDS IN THE CHOWDHURY ECOSYSTEM MODEL

The Chowdhury model for ecosystems is modified by assuming a birth rate increasing with temperature, and additional minor changes. Its computer simulation based on individual births and deaths gives a biodiversity increasing from cold to warm climates. Complexity of foodwebs increases with time and at a higher rate at low latitudes, and there is a higher rate of species creation at low latitudes. Keeping many niches empty makes the results correspond more closely to natural gradients. All these findings are in good agreement with theoretical predictions and empirical findings, demonstrating that the Chowdhury model used for our simulations realistically reflects these.Latitudinal gradient, species diversity, productivity