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Are Insect Populations Inherently More Variable? A Multi-Taxa Approach to Characterising Interannual Fluctuations in

Graham A Montgomery1,2, Eliza M Grames3, Jake M Jacobsen1

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|March 20, 2026
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Insects show much higher population variability than other animals like birds or fish. This insect population variability is influenced by factors such as latitude, body size, and biome.

Keywords:
fluctuationsinsect declinesmacroecologymonitoringpopulation ecologypopulation variability

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Zoology
  • Conservation Biology

Background:

  • Understanding population dynamics is crucial, especially for insects facing reported declines.
  • Factors driving population variability across species, time, and space remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess if insects exhibit greater population variability compared to other animal taxa.
  • To identify factors influencing insect population variability.

Main Methods:

  • Compiled over 4500 insect time series from published and unpublished data.
  • Calculated indices of interannual population variability for nearly 1500 insect species.
  • Compared insect variability to that of birds, mammals, and fish.

Main Results:

  • Insects demonstrate significantly higher population variability than birds, mammals, and fish.
  • Insect population variability increases at higher latitudes and is greater for smaller-bodied species.
  • Shorter, older time series and biome type also influence insect population variability.

Conclusions:

  • Insects exhibit inherently higher population variability than other major animal groups.
  • Geographic and biological factors significantly shape insect population dynamics.
  • Findings aid in predicting insect population trends and extinction risks amid declines.