Rock-paper-scissors models with a preferred mobility direction

Abstract

We investigate a modified spatial stochastic Lotka-Volterra formulation of the rock-paper-scissors model using off-lattice stochastic simulations. In this model one of the species moves preferentially in a specific direction —the level of preference being controlled by a noise strength parameter ( and corresponding to total preference and no preference, respectively)— while the other two species have no preferred direction of motion. We study the behaviour of the system starting from random initial conditions, showing that the species with asymmetric mobility has always an advantage over its predator. We also determine the optimal value of the noise strength parameter which gives the maximum advantage to that species. Finally, we find that the critical number of individuals, below which the probability of extinction becomes significant, decreases as the noise level increases, thus showing that the addition of a preferred mobility direction studied in the present letter does not favour coexistence.