Interactions among niches are isolated and explained. The concept of crossover hillclimbing is introduced. Using constructed models of fitness sharing, this study derives lower bounds on the population size required to maintain, with probability, gamma, a fixed number of desired niches. It also derives expressions for the expected time to disappearance of a desired niche, and relates disappearance time to population size. Models are presented of sharing under selection, and sharing under both selection and crossover.
Some models assume that all niches are equivalent with respect to fitness.
Others allow niches to differ with respect to fitness. I have edited this message for brevity. Contributions from new application areas will be particularly welcome. All abstracts must be written in English, starting with a succinct statement of the problem, the results achieved, their significance and a comparison with previous work. If authors believe that more details are necessary to substantiate the main claims of the paper, they may include a clearly marked appendix that will be read at the discretion of the International Scientific Committee.