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.