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Published on: June 4, 2016
Geometrid outbreak waves travel across Europe
Olle Tenow1, Arne C Nilssen, Helena Bylund
1Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. olle.tenow@blixtmail.se
The Journal of Animal Ecology
|August 18, 2012
Summary
Winter moth (Operophtera brumata) outbreaks travel across Europe in 9-10 year waves, moving ESE-WNW. Understanding these continental-scale population dynamics is crucial for managing geometrid moth cycles.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Zoology
- Entomology
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Population ecology of cyclic geometrid moths, like the winter moth (Operophtera brumata), is complex.
- Local-scale studies often fail to capture the full picture of moth population behavior.
- Previous research lacked a continental-scale perspective on winter moth outbreak patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of winter moth (Operophtera brumata) outbreaks across Europe.
- To understand the influence of continental-scale population behavior on local-scale ecology.
- To investigate the origins and mechanisms driving cyclic moth outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Compiled qualitative and quantitative data on Operophtera brumata outbreaks from 1950s to early 21st century across Europe.
- Analyzed outbreak data on epicentral, regional, and continental scales.
- Mapped outbreak waves to determine direction, speed, and wavelength.
Main Results:
- Identified decadal waves of Operophtera brumata outbreaks traveling across Europe.
- Observed a predominant unidirectional movement of outbreaks from ESE to WNW (towards the Scandes and Atlantic) at an average speed of 330 km/year.
- Found that outbreaks in the steppe zone of Eastern Europe do not participate in these waves due to habitat fragmentation.
Conclusions:
- Continental-scale population dynamics are essential for understanding local winter moth ecology.
- Hostile boundary models are hypothesized to explain the origin of outbreak waves.
- Multidisciplinary, continentally coordinated studies are vital for understanding cyclic animal population behavior.
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