A multispecies artificial ecosystem is formulated
using cellular automata
with species
interactions and food chain hierarchy.
The
constructed finite state
automaton can
simulate the complexity
and
self-organized
characteristics of the
evolving multispecies living ecosystems. Simulations show that a
small perturbation or extinction event may affect many other species
in the ecosystem in an avalanche manner. Both the avalanches and the
extinction arising from these changes follow a power
law,
reflecting that the multispecies living
ecosytems have the characteristics of self-organized
criticality.