Question

I’m trying to implement a model of predator-prey.
It is agent-based model. Every few milliseconds is a new move. On the field there are two types of creatures: predator and prey. The behavior of each of them is given by the following rules:

Prey:

1. Just moved to an unoccupied cell
2. Every few steps creates offspring to his old cell
3. Life expectancy is limited by the number of moves

Predator:

1. Predator moves to the cell with prey. If such cells are not, in any
   free neighboring cell
2. Same
3. Same

I have a problem with the choice of prey move.

For example, I have preys in cells 5 and 9.
Each of them can move to cell 6.
How can I resolve this conflict?
Thanks

Answer 1

Use asynchronous updating. Iterate through the prey in random order, having them decide in turn to which cell they should move.

This is a common approach in simulations. It has an additional benefit in that it eliminates limit cycles in the dynamics.