Agent-based modelling of resource flow in plant networks

Evidence of large-scale forest mycorrhizal networks that facilitate plant-to-plant nutrient transfer suggests that plants have the ability to distribute and share resources between individuals. An agent-based model that allows plants to interact with soil nutrients and share resources through a network was designed with the goal of providing fundamental insight on cooperation in a stand of plants. Simulation parameters were varied to determine what conditions promote and discourage cooperative behaviours. Cost of life (energy for basal metabolism), initial (seed) energy, and population size were the most important variables affecting cooperation between plants. This model is intended as a preliminary look at plant networks that will be extended to further address the mycorrhiza context specifically. The model, once fully developed, is intended to support modeling of whole environment modeling of systems of plants.