Co-evolution in Artificial Ecosystems: Competition and Cooperation Using Allellopathy

This paper presents simulations of long-term co-evolution in simple artificial ecosystems composed of different plant species. Artificial plants and plant communities, evolving in a 3D environment, are based on a multi-agent model. This multi-agent approach allows to define communication processes existing at plant and organ levels. A model of a particular chemical interaction between plants is developed in this paper : the allellopathy. This intraspecific and interspecific phenomenon is used in nature both in competition and in cooperation in plant community development. This paper focuses particularly on the emergence of competition and cooperation during long time periods. Several results obtained in this paper are close to natural observations.