Fluctuations and Cycles: The Intriguing Link of Theory and Empirical Studies Primary Sources: Case (2000), Hutchinson (1978), Ricklefs and Miller (1999), Turchin (2003) Primary Goals: Understand link of theory (mathematical models), and empirical studies/approaches Understand basic processes and associated terminology Gain appreciation of complexity of population dynamics and need for multiple scientific approach Appreciate application of theory and empirical studies

Why Theory? The mathematical/theoretical treatment (Lotka/Volterra/Pearl) of population fluctuations began, coincidentally, with the initiation of a rigorous empirical approach (Elton) Only recently, do we find a syntheses of empirical/theoretical approaches: Turchin’s Complex Population Dynamics perhaps providing the best synthesis Thanks Becky! Theory is key: tendency for common phenomenon to be overlooked or misinterpreted in the absence of a well-known body of theory The primary contribution of theory was in demonstrating that complex dynamics, such as cycles, could be caused by simple endogenous mechanisms: this provided a rationale for developing more clever hypotheses than simply trying to identify exogenous mechanisms, such as weather.

With the debate of Density Dependence/Independence, Nicholson started the debate that led to analyses of long-term data sets. From this, emerged the search for analytical methods, discussed by Mary. Emergence of nonlinear dynamic models, and the, once again, link between physicists and ecologists, exemplified by Robert May’s work.

Population Dynamics: Terminology Trend: long-term (operationally defined) exogenously driven, systematic change Oscillation: Pop dynamics that have some element of regularity, predictability Damped Oscillation: oscillations that become less pronounced as they approach a stable point (e.g., carrying capacity) Fluctuation: temporal changes in abundance Irregular fluctuations: irregularity of numbers after trend and endogenous oscillations have been removed == “env. stochasticity” ==“process noise” (exogenous env. stochasticity and measurement noise [sampling and measurement error] Cycle: Stable limit cycle: A stable oscillation – never stabilizes at equilibrium Bifurcation: limit cycle that splits into n-periodicity Chaos: bounded fluctuations with sensitive dependence on initial conditions Deterministic Chaos: arises from model without stochasticity

Fluctuations and Cycles: Two Focuses Single Species Population Interactions

Population Oscillations: Single Species/Spatial Relations Demography of Single Population Metapopulation Dynamics

Single-Population Oscillations: Mechanisms Endogenous vs Exogenous vs Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Mechanisms Endogenous: the density-dependent component of population dynamics Exogenous: the density-independent component; affects density without being affected by it Intrinsic factors: pertaining to the focal population; characteristics within Extrinsic factors: external factors (e.g., predation) affecting focal population

Single-Population Fluctuations: Mechanisms First Principle: intrinsic growth rate determines theoretical oscillation potential Species(populations) with high pop growth rates can track fluctuating env conditions (K)

Single-Population Fluctuations: Mechanisms

Theory suggests a population will track the environment closely when T is < period of environmental fluctuation/2  AND When T is >> than period than population varies little Characteristic Return Time, T Single-Population Fluctuations: Mechanisms

Single-Population Fluctuations: Mechanisms Second Principal: Temporal variation in age structure will lead to oscillatory behavior Temporal variation often irregular, leading to fluctuations, not cycles

Single-Population Cycles: Mechanisms High R and simple density dependence Population models developed in s demonstrated that populations subjected to even minor random environmental var could be caused to oscillate or cycle Inherent in discrete population models, such as the logistic equation, N t+1 = (1 + R(1-N t / K) ) Lets look at what happens to the predicted N with changes in population growth rate, R Time Population Size

From Case (2000:115) R < 2.0Equilibrium point is locally stable R = 2.0Equilibrium point becomes unstable a cycle of 2 “is born” R = 2.449A cycle of period 4 is born R = 2.544A cycle of period 8 is born R = 2.564A cycle of period 16 is born R = 2.568A cycle of period 32 is born Note: successive period doublings occur faster with inc. R. Converge on R=2.57, in the limit of an infinite period. Stable Limit Cycles

Time lags Continuous time-lag model of Hutchinson (but first used in economics 40 years prior) dn/dt=rN t ( (K-N t-T )/K) The dynamics of this model are controlled by rT; results are sensitive to either r or T Single-Population Cycles: Mechanisms Time delays cause oscillations and cycles in continuous models Behavior is well known for relative values of r and T

Chaotic Population Growth R > 2.57 Chaotic behavior is NOT random. Note the behavior arises from a deterministic model Deterministic Chaos: arising from a deterministic model (no stochastic elements), sensitive to initial conditions, e.g., No. Note that these behaviors are distinct from the continuous logistic eqn; the only difference is the lag time of t-interval.

Single-Population Cycles: Empirical Studies

Observations and Hypotheses Single-Population Cycles: Empirical Studies Three Classes of Hypotheses: 1.Abiotic (weather and sunspots) 2. Biotic intrinsic (genotype/phenotypic phys. or behav.) 3.Biotic extrinsic (food, predation, parasites, disease) The Chitty Hypothesis: “all species are capable of limiting their own density without either destroying the food resources to which they are adapted, or depending upon enemies or climatic accidents to prevent them from doing so” “at each mention of the Chitty Hypothesis faculty and students bow their heads and cross themselves to the accompaniment of religious music”