Ecological Entomology (2004) 29, 96-105

Sandy Raimondo, Andrew M. Liebhold, John S. Strazanac and Linda Butler (2004)
Population synchrony within and among Lepidoptera species in relation to weather, phylogeny, and larval phenology
Ecological Entomology 29 (1), 96-105
Abstract: 1. The population dynamics of native herbivore species in central Appalachian deciduous forests were studied by analysing patterns of synchrony among intra- and interspecific populations and weather.
2. Spatial synchrony of 10 Lepidoptera species and three weather variables (minimum temperature, maximum temperature, precipitation) from 12 sites was measured using cross-correlation functions relating levels of synchrony to the distance separating each set of populations. Based on both the pattern of synchrony and the region-wide cross-correlation coefficients, Lepidoptera species appear to be synchronised, at least in part, by local weather conditions.
3. Interspecific cross-correlations were calculated for all sympatric species pairs and trends in interspecific synchrony were related to phylogenetic relatedness, lifehistory timing, and weather. Interspecific synchrony was highest among species whose larvae were present during the same time of the season, but there was no relationship between interspecific synchrony and phylogenetic affinity.
4. Spatial synchrony of weather variables was significantly related to both species of some interspecific pairs, indicating weather as a potential mechanism involved in synchronising populations of different species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew M. Liebhold

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melanolophia canadaria		U.S.A. (NE)
	Itame pustularia		U.S.A. (NE)
	Hypagyrtis unipunctata		U.S.A. (NE)
	Besma endropiaria		U.S.A. (NE)
	Heterocampa guttivitta		U.S.A. (NE)
	Acronicta ovata		U.S.A. (NE)
	Morrisonia latex		U.S.A. (NE)