HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE

Department of Computer Science Seminar
2008 Series

An Individual-based Evolving Predator-prey Ecosystem Simulation

Dr. Robin Gras
Canada Research Chair in Bio-Informatics
School of Computer Science
University of Windsor

Date: June 6, 2008 (Friday)
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Venue: SCT909, Cha Chi Ming Science Tower, Ho Sin Hang Campus

Abstract
We present an individual-based predator-prey ecosystem model. Each agent behavior is modeled by a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM), allowing the evolution of the agent behavior through the epochs of the simulation. The study investigates patterns of macroevolutionary processes such as the emergence of species in a simulated ecosystem and proposes a general framework for the study of specific ecological problems such as invasive specie and species diversity patterns. The FCM enables the agent to evaluate its environment (e.g., distance to predator/prey, distance to potential breeding partner, distance to food, energy level), its internal state (e.g., fear, hunger, curiosity) with memory and choosing several possible actions such as evasion, eating or breeding. The FCM of each individual is unique and is the outcome of the evolution process throughout the simulation. The notion of species is also implemented in a way that species emerge from the evolving population of agents. The simulation produces a lot of data including: number of individuals, level of energy by individual, choice of action, age of the individuals, average FCM associated to each species, number of species… We present promising results showing realistic and coherent behaviors of the whole simulation.

Biography
Dr. Gras is associate professor and Canada Research Chair in the School of Computer Science of the University of Windsor since 2006. He is also cross-appointed by the Biological Department of the University of Windsor. Dr. Gras obtained the PhD in Computer Science in 1997 at the University of Rennes (France). He obtained his "Habilitation a Diriger les Recherches" in 2004 at the University of Rennes. He was post-doctorate in the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics in Geneva (Switzerland) in 1998 and Senior Scientist in the same institute until December 2004. He was invited Senior Scientist at the INRIA Rennes from January to June 2005. Dr. Gras was also consultant for GenePort Inc. from 2000 to 2002.

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(For enquiry, please contact Computer Science Department at 3411 2385)

http://www.comp.hkbu.edu.hk/v1/?page=seminars&id=31
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