Modelling the evolution of periodicity in the periodical cicadas

Authored by Jaakko Toivonen, Lutz Fromhage

Date Published: 2018

Sponsors: Academy of Finland

Platforms: MATLAB

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Background: Periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) have a life cycle that ends with the entire underground nymph population exhibiting a synchronized mass emergence to mate above ground. Previous studies have hypothesized that the periodical cicadas evolved from non-periodical cicadas by switching from a life-cycle length determined by body size to one determined by age. Questions: When can a mutation coding for fixed life-cycle length invade a resident population in which life-cycle length is variable? What determines the length of the fixed cycle? Methods: Numerical analysis of a mathematical model and simulations of an individual-based model. Results: If there is a sufficiently strong predation intensity affecting the pool of individuals emerging to reproduce, a non-periodical population may become proto-periodical such that reproductive success varies yearly. Then, an emergence strategy with a fixed life-cycle length targeting years of high emergence density can invade.

Tags

ecology Density Populations Semelparity 17-year Life-cycles Allee effect Individual-based simulation Homoptera-cicadidae 13-year Numerical analysis Periodical cicadas Structured population model