The many-body dynamics exhibited by living objects include group formation within a population, and the non-equilibrium process of attrition between two opposing populations due to competition or conflict. We show analytically and numerically that th
e combination of these two dynamical processes generates an attrition duration T whose nonlinear dependence on population asymmetry x is in stark contrast to standard mass-action theories. A minority population experiences a longer survival time than two equally balanced populations, irrespective of whether the majority population adopts such internal grouping or not. Adding a third population with pre-defined group sizes allows T(x) to be tailored. Our findings compare favorably to real-world observations.
Fights-to-the-death occur in many natural, medical and commercial settings. Standard mass action theory and conventional wisdom imply that the minority (i.e. smaller) groups survival time decreases as its relative initial size decreases, in the absen
ce of replenishment. Here we show that the opposite actually happens, if the minority group features internal network dynamics. Our analytic theory provides a unified quantitative explanation for a range of previously unexplained data, and predicts how losing battles in a medical or social context might be extended or shortened using third-party intervention.
