Cooperation vs. Competition in an Evolutionary Ecological Framework

In an ecological system pathogens often need to share their host with other pathogens, and therefore
compete for the resources with different spreading strategies. They can interact in different
manners: for a short period cooperation between pathogens can lead to faster and larger host
occupation [1-5]. Spanish Flu and HIV are examples of such cases. The cooperation, however, can
lead to death of the host population and consequently also pathogens’ death. Therefore on a long
run, the cooperation strategy is not necessary the best. Here, we first show non-trivial dynamical effects of cooperation and competition in an ecological
framework; Then we propose and study an evolutionary game
model in order to understand the co-evolutionary dynamics of two co-infecting pathogens.



[1] L. Chen, F Ghanbarnejad, W. Cai, P. Grassberger, EPL 104, 5 (2013).

[2] W. Cai, L. Chen, F. Ghanbarnejad, P. Grassberger, Nature Physics 11, 936 (2015).

[3] P. Grassberger, L. Chen, F. Ghanbarnejad, W. Cai, Physical Review E 93, 042316 (2016).

[4] J. P. Rodríguez, F. Ghanbarnejad, V. M. Eguíluz, Frontiers in Physics, V 5, P 46 (2017).

[5] L. Chen, F. Ghanbarnejad, D. Brockmann, New J. Phys. 19, 103041(2017).