The role of mutation rate in a simple colonization model

Abstract

We study the effect of mutations in a simple model of colonization, based on Montecarlo simulations. When the population colonizes the whole available habitat, a maximum population density is reached, which depends on the mutation rate. Depending on the values of other parameters, such as selection pressure, fecundity and mobility, there is an optimal value for the mutation rate for which the colonization reaches the highest density. We also investigate the survival probabilities under different conditions and its relation to the mutation rate.