Abstract: An original modeling tool called Evolutionary Constructor has been
proposed and described. Evolutionary Constructor combines the advantages of
both generalized and portrait modeling and, additionally, provides an option to
modify a current model's structure. The evolution of communities comprising a
trophic ring-like network with the horizontal transfer of metabolism genes
occurring among the communities has been modeled and presented. It has been
demonstrated that a prolonged increase in the fitness of any single population
that forms part of that trophic ring-like network of antagonistic communities
will eventually lead that system to becoming absolutely dependent on
environmental fluctuations. This result challenges the intuitive attitudes that
the higher population fitness, the more stability is given to that population.
Modeling of a system comprised by symbiotic communities has revealed that
horizontal transfer confers a selective advantage not only on the acceptor
population (which is up to expectations) but also on the donor population. It
has therefore been demonstrated that horizontal transfer can be preserved by
selection along evolution even without "selfish genes". Evolutionary
Constructor can handle any phenotypic trait that is controlled genetically,
epigenetically, etc., which extends the applicability of this tool to various
processes of information transduction among populations, provided that these
processes resemble horizontal gene transfer.
Keywords: Ecosystem, trophic network, symbiotic community, antagonistic community, evolution of community, metabolic cul-de-sac, mathematical modeling, program package, mutation, horizontal gene transfer
