Generation cycles in Indonesian lady beetle populations may occur as a result of cannibalism.
Generation cycles, population cycles with a period of approximately one generation, have been observed in a variety of field and laboratory studies. Such dynamics are predicted to arise through the effects of resource competition and cannibalism or involve consumer-natural enemy interactions. We first show, using a new highly simplified model, that generation cycles are a very common outcome of strongly age-structured intraspecific interactions involving cannibalism. We then analyse a series of unique long-term time-series of ladybeetle (Coccinellidae) abundances from tropical Indonesia. Some of the time-series display clear generation cycles, and we argue that there is strong evidence that these are caused by intraspecific cannibalism.
Nakamura
Koji
K
Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan.
Hasant
Nusyirwan
N
Abbas
Idrus
I
Godfray
H Charles J
HC
Bonsall
Michael B
MB
D000818:Animals; D002190:Cannibalism; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D007214:Indonesia; D008954:Models, Biological; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013997:Time Factors