Figure 5. Trichome competition in the Tower Bridge field.

Each trichome (N = 1.26×10⁵) in the domain is assigned a random length (L = 0.02–2 mm), photophobic sensitivity (s = 0–1) and gliding speed (v = 0–10 µm⋅s⁻¹); 11 simulations were performed. Error bars are the standard deviations of simulation means. (A) Graph plotting exposure against photophobic sensitivity. For values s<0.35, trichomes are exposed to slightly less than the average light in the domain. For s>0.35, exposure increases markedly, peaking at a 12% exposure advantage for “perfectly” sensitive trichomes. (B) Graph plotting exposure against trichome length for sensitivities 0.35<s≤1. Exposure increases significantly up to 0.8 mm after which it plateaus. (C) Graph plotting exposure against gliding speed for sensitivities 0.35<s≤1. Exposure peaks at 7.5 µm⋅s⁻¹ then plateaus. (D) Composite image of 11 simulations after 8 hours.