Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 19: Focus Session: Dynamics of Adaptive Networks (joint with SOE and DY)

BP 19.5: Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 10:45–11:00, H37

Hierarchical transport structures in the network of Physarum polycephalum — •Werner Baumgarten and Marcus J. B. Hauser — Abteilung Biophysik, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

The plasmodium of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum consists of a single multinucleate giant amoeboid cell that forms a characteristic two-dimensional vein network. Through the entire tubular network protoplasm is transported periodically back and fro. During evolution this transportation network is optimized for efficiency [1].

The vein network of P. polycephalum is considered a weighted undirected graph, with veins as edges and branching points as nodes, the weight is given by the local drag of each vein [2]. A graph analysis is performed on the network of P. polycephalum based on the conjecture of laminar flow in the veins. Experiments to quantify the structure were carried out on multiple scales. We demonstrate that the network posses a self-similar hierarchic structure which consists of nested loops of veins of decreasing transport efficiency. These results are used to describe the network evolution.

[1] A. Tero, S. Takagi, T. Saigusa, K. Ito, D. P. Bebber, M. Fricker, K. Yumiki, R. Kobayashi, T. Nakagaki, 2010, Science, 327, 439

[2] W.Baumgarten, T. Ueda, M.J.B. Hauser, Phys. Rev. E 2010, 82, 046113