Evolution of parameters when moving towards equilibrium
For c ≤0.99, the maximum number of generations required to reach
the stationary mean value of the genotypic descriptor was several tens
to several hundreds, whereas for c> 0.99, the
convergence time far exceeded 300 generations (Figures 2 and S2). For
the genetic indices, a nearly stable mean value was observed beginning
in generation 100, with very small fluctuations. Strictly clonal
populations (c =1) differed: their genotypic parameters also
reached a steady value early, but their genetic parameters continued to
evolve for 10000 or more generations. These simulation results are in
line with results obtained with mathematical assessments (Reichel et
al., 2016): the farther the population is from its equilibrium, the
faster it converges towards the equilibrium values. The trajectory then
slows down as the values approach those expected at equilibrium.
Mathematical analysis predicted that the equilibrium values would be
asymptotically reached after a maximum convergence time that depended on
the relative strength of clonality, genetic drift and mutation.