Cellular automata model of an invasive spread

Abstract

In this study we constructed a simple cellular automation program of invasive spread. Using the C programming language, the model was tested in three cases: using ideal immortal invasive cell (1), mortal invasive cells (2), and modified case 2 with variations of environment nutrient regeneration (3). In all the cases, the general stages of invasive spread namely minimum population establishment, expansion and saturation of the invading species, were observed. Under the domain of the model of this study, we found out that there are conditions wherein mortal cells can have a higher population growth rate than that of the immortal cells.