Editor's Summary

30 August 2007

Species on the move

Mobility is an important factor in most ecosystems, from animals that migrate from place to place to bacteria that swim and tumble. Reichenbach et al. have used the rock–paper–scissors game to model competing species in what may be the first theoretical study of the influence of mobility on biodiversity. In static populations, the status quo holds. But when mobility exceeds a critical value, biodiversity is lost. Below the threshold, subpopulations can coexist and biodiversity is maintained — a result that may prove relevant to the design of conservation strategies.

Letter: Mobility promotes and jeopardizes biodiversity in rock–paper–scissors games

Tobias Reichenbach, Mauro Mobilia & Erwin Frey

doi:10.1038/nature06095

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