Evolution of cooperation in multi-population

Abstract

Cooperative behavior is key to the survival of species in ecosystems. Here, we extend the traditional prisoner's dilemma game by proposing a multi-population model in which players can obtain a lower payoff via interactions with neighbors belonging to different populations than interactions within the same population. Then we study novel spatiotemporal dynamics of cooperation among multi-populations and find that fascinating pattern forms and spatiotemporal dynamic emerges, accompanied by the self-organization of populations. In particular, under favorable conditions, the system with fewer populations maintains cooperative behavior stability. While under adverse conditions the cycle between populations tends to collapse, leading to a lower level of cooperation. These observations highlight and explain why multi-populations greatly promote cooperative behavior in social dilemmas.