Predicting emergence, chorusing, and oviposition of periodical cicadas

Ecology
Uta Oberdörster, Peter R Grant

Abstract

Periodical cicadas in the genus Magicicada have an unusual life history that includes an exceptionally long life cycle and a massive, synchronized emergence. Distributions in woodland habitat are extremely patchy, and an unresolved problem is how the patchiness is generated and maintained. We undertook a study in Princeton, New Jersey, USA, to determine if habitat factors such as tree height, distance to the nearest neighbor, and amount of foliage influence distributions of nymphal emergences, centers of chorusing aggregations, and oviposition sites. Emerging nymphs were counted, chorus centers were identified by measuring decibel levels of their songs, and oviposition was estimated from the foliage "flags" that are produced by trees in response to the damage caused by egg-laying. All three distributions were mapped on 50 trees in a human-managed area of 75 x 130 m. We were unable to identify habitat features that were associated with the distribution of emergences, except that tulip trees (Liriodendron) had significantly fewer emergences than two other genera, ash (Fraxinus) and beech (Fagus). Using multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the distribution of emergences was the best predictor of the distribution of c...Continue Reading

References

Apr 2, 1999·Science·J K Parrish, L Edelstein-Keshet
Jun 14, 1974·Science·R M May
Dec 1, 1994·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·K HeliövaaraC Simon
Jul 1, 1981·Oecologia·Richard Karban

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