Skip to main content
Log in

Evolution, games theory and polyhedra

  • Published:
Journal of Mathematical Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The problem of finding an Evolutionary Stable Strategy (ESS) for an animal species is defined. It is shown how such strategies are a subset of the equilibrium solutions for a particular non-zero sum game. These equilibrium solutions are then shown to arise from the vertices of a particular convex polyhedron. A method of finding these equilibrium solutions through the vertices and then the ESS solutions is given. This is illustrated by a number of numerical examples taken from the literature. Finally an alternative approach based on solving a Linear Complementarity Problem is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abakuks, A.: Conditions for evolutionary stable strategies. J. Appl. Probab. 17, 559–562 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bishop, D. T., Cannings, C.: Models of animal conflict. Adv. Appl. Probab. 8, 616–621 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bomze, I. M. Lotka-Volterra equation and replicator dynamic: a two-dimensional classification. Biol. Cybern. 48, 201–211 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bomze, I. M.: On supercopositive matrices and their application to evolutionary stable strategies. Technical Report No. 29. Institut für Statïstik and Informatik an der Universität Wien, Austria (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bomze, I. M.: Non-cooperative two-person games in biology: a classification. Int. J. Game Theor. 15, 3157 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bomze, I. M.: Remarks on the recursive structure of copositivity. Technical Report No. 32. Institut für Statistik and Informatik an der Universität Wien, Austria (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dantzig, G. B.: Linear programming and extensions. Princeton (1963)

  8. Dyer, M. E., Proll, L. G.: An algorithm for determining all extreme points of a convex polytope. Math. Prog. 12, 81–96 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Haigh, J.: Game theory and evolution. Adv. Appl. Probab. 7, 1–27 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hofbauer, J., Schuster, P., Sikmund, K.: A note on evolutionary stable strategies and game dynamics. J. Theor. Biol. 81, 609–612 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lemke, C. E.: Bimatrix equilibrium points and mathematical programming. Man. Sci. 11, 681–689 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mattheiss, T. H., Schmidt, B. K.: Computational results on an algorithm for finding all vertices of a polytope. Math. Prog. 18, 308–329 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Maynard Smith J., Price, G. R.: The logic of animal conflict. Nature 246, 15–18 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Maynard Smith, J. The theory of games and the evolution of animal conflicts. J. Theor. Biol. 47, 209–221 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Maynard Smith, J.: Evolution and the theory of games. Cambridge (1982)

  16. McMullen, P.: The maximum number of faces of a convex polytope. Mathematika 17, 179–184 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shapiro, J. F.: Mathematical programming: structures and algorithms. New York: Wiley 1979

    Google Scholar 

  18. Taylor, P. D., Jonker, L. B.: Evolutionary stable strategies and game dynamics. Math. Biosci. 40, 145–156 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Williams, H. P.: Fourier's method of linear programming and its dual. Am. Math. Monthly. 93, 681–695 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zeeman, E. C.: Population dynamics from game theory. Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Theory of Dynamical Systems. Evanston: Northwestern 1979

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zeeman, E. C.: Dynamics of the evolution of animal conflicts. J. Theor. Biol. 90, 249–270 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, H.P. Evolution, games theory and polyhedra. J. Math. Biology 25, 393–409 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00277164

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00277164

Key words

Navigation