Maximum food count was 3000, indicated by the ceiling at top. The food count is at its maximum value at the start of the simulation, but due to lucky swimmers eating bits in the first time step, the food count appears to begin lower. 11 Figure 4. Turning As hoped, more optimized locomotion and anatomy emerge in all simulations. Most paths traced by swimmers tend to be spirals of varying types, some paths spiraling out, some in.
Some paths create spirals within spirals.
The turning mechanism of evolved swimmers tends to correct counterproductive spiraling paths. Among the others, a few are able to close in on their chosen mates, before getting hungry and sidetracked by a nearby food bit. The evolution of turning skill involves some quirky behaviors. Some populations acquire the ability to turn in only one direction, and so must do more work in order to orient towards a goal. They also risk a higher chance of dying of hunger.