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.

  • Article
  • Published:

Aggregation, migration and population mechanics

Nature volume 265, pages 415–421 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

A concept is developed for the regulation of populations by density-dependent movement, rather than by overt competition alone. Fitness is seen as maximising the reproductive advantage of a balance between migratory and congregatory behaviours. Population density is shown to be spatially, as well as temporally dynamic and a mechanism is proposed that accounts for observed spatial behaviour.

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

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Varley, G. C., Gradwell, G. R. & Hassell, M. P. Insect Population Ecology (Blackwell, Oxford, 1973).

  2. Lewontin, R. C. A. Rev. Ecol. System. 1, 1–16 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hassell, M. P. J. Anim. Ecol. 44, 283–295 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hassell, M. P. & Comins, H. N. Theor. Popul. Biol. 9, 202–222 (1976).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Beddington, J. R., Free, C. A. & Lawton, J. H. J. Anim. Ecol. 45, 791–816(1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hassell, M. P. & May, R. M. J. Anim. Ecol. 42, 693–726 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. May, R. M. Nature, 261, 459–467 (1976).

    Article  CAS  ADS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. May, R. M., Conway, G. R., Hassell, M. P. & Southwood, T. R. E. J. Anim. Ecol. 43, 747–770 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fisher, R. A. The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (Clarendon, Oxford, 1930).

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Varley, G. C. & Gradwell, G. R. J. Anim. Ecol. 29, 399–401 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Holling, C. S. A. Rev. Ecol. System 4, 1–23 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hägerstrand, T. Les Deplacements Humains (ed. Sutler, J), 61–83 (Union Européene D'Editions, Monaco, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Küchemann, C. F., Boyce, A. J. & Harrison, G. A. Human Biol. 39, 251–276 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Most of the papers in Insect Abundance (ed. Southwood, T. R. E.) (Blackwell, Oxford, 1968).

  16. Urquhart, F. A. The Monarch Butterfly (University Press, Toronto, 1960).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Lewis, T. & Taylor, L. R. Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 116, 393–469 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Taylor, L. R. J. Anim. Ecol. 43, 225–238 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Crumpacker, D. W. & Williams, J. S. Ecological Monographs 43, 499–538 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Dobzhansky, T. & Powell, J. R. Proc. R. Soc. B 187, 281–298 (1974).

    CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Greenwood, P. J. & Harvey, P. H. J. Anim. Ecol. 45, 887–898 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Krebs, C. J. & Myers, J. H. Adv. Ecol. Res. 8, 267–399 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lidicker, W. Z., Jr. Small Mammals: their Productivity and Population Dynamics (eds. Golley, F. B., Petrusewicz, K. & Ryszkowski, L.), 103–128 (University Press, Cambridge, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Williams, C. B. Migration of Butterflies (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1930).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Johnson, C. G. Migration and Dispersal of Insects by Flight (Methuen & Co., London, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Johnson, C. G. Physiology of Insecta (ed. Rockstein, M.), 2, 187–226 (Academic, New York, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kennedy, J. S. Nature, Lond. 189, 785–791 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Southwood, T. R. E. Biol. Rev., 37, 171–214 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Dingle, H. Science, 175, 1327–1335 (1972).

    Article  CAS  ADS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Jones, F. R. H. Fish Migration (Edward Arnold, London, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Williams, C. B. Insect Migration (Collins, London, 1958).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Matthews, G. V. T. Bird Navigation, 2nd ed. (University Press, Cambridge, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Wright, S. Genetics 28, 114–138 (1943).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Kimura, M. & Weiss, G. H. Genetics 49, 561–576 (1964).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Karlin, S. in Population Genetics and Ecology (eds Karlin, S. & Nevo, E.), 617–657 (Academic Press, New York, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hassell, M. P. & Rogers, D. J. J. Anim. Ecol. 41, 661–676 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Lees, A. D. Insect Polymorphism (ed. by Kennedy, J. S.), 68–79 (Blackwell, Oxford, 1961).

    Google Scholar 

  38. Bonnemaison, L. Ann. Epiphyt. 2, 1–308 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Johnson, C. G. in Insect Flight (ed. by Rainey, R. C.), 217–234 (Blackwell, Oxford, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Taylor, L. R. J. Anim. Ecol. 44, 135–163 (1975).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Thoday, J. M. Heredity, Lond. 32, 406–409 (1974).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Preston, F. W. in Diversity and Stability in Ecological Systems (eds Woodwell, G. M. & Smith, H. H.) 1–12 (Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Haldane, J. B. S. New Biology 15, 9–24 (1953).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Watson, A. & Moss, R. Proc. XV Int. Ornith. Congr., 134–149 (1972).

  45. MacArthur, R. H. Am. Natur. 94, 25–36 (1960).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Southwood, T. R. E. Trop. Sci. 13, 275–278 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Taylor, L. R. Rep. Rothamsted expt. Stn. for 1973 , Part 2 202–239 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Ford, E. B. Ecological Genetics 4th Edn.. (Chapman and Hall, London, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Levins, R. in Some Mathematical Questions in Biology 2, 76–107 (American Mathematical Society, Providence, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Boorman, S. A. & Levitt, P. R. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 2711–2713 (1972).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  51. Kennedy, J. S. J. Aust. ent. Soc. 11, 168–176 (1972).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Grinnell, J. Auk, 21, 364–382 (1904).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Gadgil, M. Ecology, 52, 253–261 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. MacArthur, R. H. Geographical Ecology (Harper and Row, New York, 1972).

  55. Hamilton, W. D. J. theor. Biol. 31, 295–311 (1971).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Wynne-Edwards, V. C. Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behaviour (Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

  57. Group Selection (ed. Williams, G. C.) (Aldine: Atherton, Chicago, 1971).

  58. Taylor, L. R. in Statistical Ecology (eds Patil, G. P., Pielou, E. C. & Waters, E.) 1, 357–377 (Pennsylvania University Press, University Park, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  59. Taylor, L. R. Nature 189, 732–735 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  60. Cavalli-Sforza, L. in Les Deplacements Humains (ed. Sutter, J.) 139–158 (Union Européene D'Editions, Monaco, 1962).

    Google Scholar 

  61. Wolfenbarger, D. O., Cornell, J. A. & Wolfenbarger, D. A. Res. Popul. Ecol. 16, 43–51 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Wilson, E. O. Sociobiology: the New Synthesis (Belknap, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  63. Williams, C. G. Sex and Evolution (University Press, Princeton, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  64. Skellam, J. G. Biometrika 38, 196–218 (1951).

    Article  CAS  MathSciNet  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Lidicker, W. Z., Jr. Am. Natur. 96, 29–33 (1962).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Hamilton, W. J., III & Watt, K. E. F. A. Rev. Ecol. System. 1, 263–286 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Kennedy, J. S. & Crawley, L. J. Anim. Ecol. 36, 147–170 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Huffaker, C. B. Hilgardia 27, 343–383 (1958).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Varley, G. C. Parasitology 33, 47–66 (1941).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Cole, L. C. Science 132, 348–349 (1960).

    Article  CAS  ADS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Taylor, L. R., French, R. A. & Macaulay, E. D. M. J. Anim. Ecol. 42, 751–760 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Harper, J. L., Lovell, P. H. & Moore, K. G. A. Rev. Ecol. System. 1, 327–356 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Scossiroli, R. E., Cavicchi, S. & Puppi, G. Atti Acad. Sci. Ist. Bologna Memorie 3, 109–132 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  74. Richards, O. W. & Southwood, T. R. E. Insect Abundance (ed. Southwood, T. R. E.), 1–7 (Blackwell, Oxford, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  75. Rostowzew, S. Overs. K. danske Vidensk. Selsk. Forh. 54–83 (1891).

  76. Eastwood, E., Isted, G. & Rider, G., Proc. R. Soc. B. 156, 242–267 (1962).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK

    L. R. Taylor

  2. Imperial College Field Station, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, UK

    R. A. J. Taylor

Authors
  1. L. R. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. A. J. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taylor, L., Taylor, R. Aggregation, migration and population mechanics. Nature 265, 415–421 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/265415a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/265415a0

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

Advanced 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