Summary:
Evolution is an algorithmic process, and is hence amenable to computer simulation, providing a powerful means of evaluating the validity and theoretical underpinning of emergent evolutionary phenomena observed in nature. Simulations of microevolution are nothing new, but macroevolutionary processes and patterns (occurring over palaeontological timescales and ideally taking into account geography and complex environmental fluctuations), are more difficult to simulate. EVOSIM is a new software package optimised for high-speed evolutionary simulation of sexually reproducing organisms over million-year timescales and fluctuating geographically constrained environments. Speciation emerges from first principles, and species origination, geographical range, and phylogeny can be tracked automatically. Environments can be modified over time, enabling events such as mass extinctions to be simulated and studied under controlled conditions. EVOSIM is still in late-stage development, but preliminary test-studies appear to demonstrate a ‘punctuated equilibrium’ pattern as an emergent phenomenon.