Bio-imitaiton of Mexican migration routes to the USA with slime mould on 3D terrains (1305.0300v1)

Abstract: Plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large single cell visible by unaided eye. It shows sophisticated behavioural traits in foraging for nutrients and developing an optimal transport network of protoplasmic tubes spanning sources of nutrients. When placed in an environment with distributed sources of nutrients the cell 'computes' an optimal graph spanning the nutrients by growing a network of protoplasmic tubes. P. polycephalum imitates development of man-made transport networks of a country when configuration of nutrients represents major urban areas. We employ this feature of the slime mould to imitate mexican migration to USA. The Mexican migration to USA is the World's largest migration system. We bio-physically imitate the migration using slime mould P. polycephalum. In laboratory experiments with 3D Nylon terrains of USA we imitated development of migratory routes from Mexico-USA border to ten urban areas with high concentration of Mexican migrants. From results of laboratory experiments we extracted topologies of migratory routes, and highlighted a role of elevations in shaping the human movement networks.

• The paper shows how the bio-imitative behavior of Physarum polycephalum models migration corridors on a 3D terrain.
• The experimental design uses nutrient reservoirs at urban centers to simulate key Mexican migration destinations.
• The findings reveal that geographical barriers influence path selection, suggesting new approaches in bio-inspired computational modeling.

Bio-imitation of Mexican Migration Routes with Slime Mould on 3D Terrains

This paper, authored by Adamatzky and Martinez, presents an intriguing exploration into the bio-imitative capabilities of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum in modeling the Mexican migration routes to the USA. Employing this organism's inherent networking behavior, the researchers replicate migratory patterns via a series of experiments conducted on a 3D representation of the USA.

Overview

The paper leverages Physarum polycephalum, a slime mould known for its efficient network formations in response to nutrient sources, to model complex human migration routes. The plasmodium phase of Physarum is especially attentive to spatial configurations of nutrients, naturally computing optimal paths that minimize transport cost. The authors have successfully applied this behavior to model transnational migration patterns, specifically focusing on the significant migration flow from Mexico to the USA, using an unconventional computing approach.

Methodology

In modeling the Mexican migration, a 3D terrain model of the USA was utilized alongside flat agar plates shaped after the country's geographical outline. Key urban areas corresponding to high Mexican migrant populations were designated as nutrient reservoirs to simulate attractor sites. These sites included major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and others, reflecting historical and current Mexican migration patterns.

The slime mould was inoculated at strategic entry points like Ciudad Juárez and Nuevo Laredo, mirroring actual migration entry routes. Over several days, the Physarum exhibited natural growth towards these nutrient sites, bypassing geographical impediments such as elevated terrains, which were included to observe how physical geography influences migration paths.

Findings

The experimental results revealed that the slime mould formed routes closely resembling documented Mexican migration pathways. In trials, it frequently traveled from entry points to major urban centers like Dallas and Los Angeles, then on to Chicago and New York. The avoidance of mountainous regions, seen in the slime mould's navigation of the 3D model, mirrored human tendencies to similarly circumvent such physical barriers.

Distinct patterns emerged, such as strong migratory connectivity between regions similar to Chicago and New York, indicating robust social and economic links analogous to human migration networks. The methodology also highlighted how environmental factors, such as elevation and humidity, subtly influence physical and, by extension, migratory pathways.

Implications and Speculations

The practical implications of this paper span both the areas of bio-inspired computing and human migration analysis. The successful imitation of human movement using Physarum polycephalum provides a novel method of researching large-scale migration without solely relying on traditional analytical models. The potential applications extend to enhancing transport network designs and studying the impacts of geographic and socio-economic factors on migration.

Theoretically, this research enriches the discourse on unconventional computing, showcasing how biological organisms can inspire computation and modeling of complex systems. It also highlights the potential for exploring how such bio-imitative strategies might develop further, especially in the field of emergent computing techniques.

Conclusion

Through the unconventional medium of slime mould, the authors provide compelling evidence of nature's untapped computational power, bridging the gap between biological behavior and human societal patterns. This paper not only advances computational methodologies but also deepens the understanding of migration dynamics, poised to influence future research and practical applications in AI and beyond.