Diffusively-coupled rock-paper-scissors game with mutation in scale-free hierarchical networks (Q2223091)

Summary: We present a metapopulation dynamic model for the diffusively-coupled rock-paper-scissors (RPS) game with mutation in scale-free hierarchical networks. We investigate how the RPS game changes by mutation in scale-free networks. Only the mutation from rock to scissors \((R\)-to-\(S)\) occurs with rate \(\mu\). In the network, a node represents a patch where the RPS game is performed. RPS individuals migrate among nodes by diffusion. The dynamics are represented by the reaction-diffusion equations with the recursion formula. We study where and how species coexist or go extinct in the scale-free network. We numerically obtained the solutions for the metapopulation dynamics and derived the transition points. The results show that, with increasing mutation rate \(\mu\), the extinction of \(P\) species occurs and then the extinction of \(R\) species occurs, and finally only \(S\) species survives. Thus, the first and second dynamical phase transitions occur in the scale-free hierarchical network. We also show that the scaling law holds for the population dynamics which suggests that the transition points approach zero in the limit of infinite size.