Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Oscillations of tropical insect populations

Abstract

SAUNDERS AND BAZIN1 have suggested that “only ecosystems with relatively few species can have a sufficiently high linear connectivity to produce oscillations without becoming unstable, which would explain why it is that population oscillations are observed in the Arctic but not in the tropics”. Most numerical studies of insect populations in the tropics have been relatively short but what longer time series there are do not bear out this statement. The more favourable temperature conditions in the tropics can allow breeding to continue throughout the year, and typically 8–10 generations may be completed each year.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Saunders, P. T., and Bazin, M. J., Nature, 256, 120–121 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lotka, A. J., in Essays on Growth and Form (edit. by LeGros-Clarke, C.) (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1945).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bigger, M., and Tapley, R. G., Bull. ent. Res., 58, 601–617 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Entwistle, P. F., Pests of Cocoa (Longmans, London, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Leston, D., A. Rev. Ent., 15, 273–294 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bigger, M., J. Anim. Ecol., 42, 417–434 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Notley, F. B., Bull. ent. Res., 39, 399–416 (1948).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Notley, F. B., Bull. ent. Res., 46, 899–912 (1956).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bulmer, M. G., J. Anim. Ecol., 43, 701–718 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Williamson, M., The Analysis of Biological Populations (Arnold, London, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Morris, R. F., Ecology, 40, 580–588 (1959).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BIGGER, M. Oscillations of tropical insect populations. Nature 259, 207–209 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259207a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/259207a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing