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PubMed1992

Population dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum sporogony in laboratory-infected Anopheles gambiae.

The population dynamics of cultured Plasmodium falciparum parasites was examined during their sporogonic development in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Estimates of absolute densities were determined for each life stage, and life tables were constructed for each of 38 experimental infections. Macrogametocyte and ookinete mortalities contributed equally to the overall mortality. On average, there was a 40-fold decrease in parasite numbers in the transition from the macrogametocyte to the ookinete stage, a 69-fold decrease in the transition from ookinete to oocyst stages, and a total net decrease in parasite numbers from macrogametocyte to oocyst stage of 2,754-fold (i.e., multiplicative). There was no relationship between macrogametocyte and ookinete densities due to the inherent variability in fertility among different gametocyte cultures. There was a curvilinear relationship (r2 = 0.66) between ookinete and oocyst densities. Above a threshold of about 30 ookinetes/mosquito, the oocyst yield per ookinete became increasingly greater with increasing ookinete density. There was a linear relationship (r2 = 0.73) between oocyst and sporozoite densities, with an average of 663 salivary gland sporozoites produced per oocyst. Sporozoite production per oocyst was not affected by oocyst density and virtually all oocyst infections resulted in sporozoite infections of the salivery glands. This quantitative study indicates that the sporogony of cultured P. falciparum in laboratory-infected A. gambiae is an inefficient process and that the ookinete is the key transitional stage affecting the probability of vector infectivity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The role of large-scale spatially explicit and small-scale localized processes on the population dynamics of cereal aphids.

A field-scale study of the spatially explicit interaction between the carabid Poecilus cupreus Linnaeus, and two common aphid species (Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker)) in winter wheat was conducted. All three species showed considerable spatial pattern at the field scale. Activity-density of P. cupreus was an order of magnitude higher in the central part of the field compared to its periphery. Where P. cupreus activity-density was highest, S. avenae and M. dirhodum population peaks were delayed. Additionally, in the case of M. dirhodum, lower maximum counts were evident where P. cupreus activity-density was highest. An analysis of the movement of individual P. cupreus using release-recapture indicated that those beetles within the centre of the field exhibited reduced displacement, which may have caused the generation or maintenance of spatial pattern. Crop density was also measured throughout the field. Although crop density had no large-scale spatial pattern, its variability at the small-scale was consistent with an influence on aphid population dynamics. This study demonstrates empirically that both large-scale spatially explicit and small-scale localized processes influenced aphid population dynamics simultaneously.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Arbitrary nonlinearities in convective population dynamics with small diffusion.

Convective counterparts of variants of the nonlinear Fisher equation which describes reaction diffusion systems in population dynamics are studied with the help of an analytic prescription and shown to lead to interesting consequences for the evolution of population densities. The initial-value problem is solved explicitly for some cases, and for others it is shown how to find traveling-wave solutions analytically. The effect of adding diffusion to the convective equations is first studied through exact analysis through a piecewise linear representation of the nonlinearity. Using an appropriate small parameter suggested by that analysis, a perturbative treatment is developed to treat the case in which the convective evolution is augmented by a small amount of diffusion.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Linking in situ bioassays and population dynamics of macroinvertebrates to assess agricultural contamination in streams of the Argentine pampa.

The two local crustacean species Hyalella curvispina and Macrobrachium borelli were chosen for assessment of agricultural contamination in two streams (Horqueta and Maguire) in the Argentine pampa. In parallel with in situ bioassays of both species, the population dynamics and the organismic drift of H. curvispina were investigated throughout the main period of insecticide application, from December 2001 to March 2002. In Maguire none of the current-use insecticides (chlorpyrifos, alpha-cypermethrin, and endosulfan) in question were detected throughout the sampling period. During 1-week intervals with no contamination by insecticides the survival rate of H. curvispina varied between 77 +/- 6% (+/- SE, n = 4) and 85 +/- 3%. In Horqueta during a week with a peak insecticide contamination of 64 microg/kg chlorpyrifos in the suspended particles, a mortality of 100% was observed in the in situ bioassays for both species, H. curvispina and M. borelli. At the same time, in Maguire H. curvispina showed reduced survival rates of 23 +/- 5% and 25 +/- 18% at the two sites, while the survival rate of M. borelli was 60 +/- 11% upstream and 93 +/- 5% downstream, below a wetland. During the period with 100% mortality of H. curvispina in Horqueta, the population density of this species decreased correspondingly, from 106 +/- 26 to 0 individuals/m(2). We conclude that in situ bioassays can be successfully linked to in-stream population dynamics for the same species and that this link is very useful for interpreting causal exposure-effect relationships.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

Container surface area and water depth influence the population dynamics of the mosquito Culex pervigilans (Diptera: Culicidae) and its associated predators in New Zealand.

The density of larval mosquitoes in containers is related to adult mosquito ovipositional preferences and to other factors such as the abundance of predators. We examined the effects of anthropogenic container size and water depth on the population dynamics of mosquitoes and their macroinvertebrate predators in Wellington, New Zealand. Culex pervigilans was the only mosquito species observed in these containers. With the exception of one sampling date, throughout the year Cx. pevigilans larvae, egg rafts, and pupal exuviae were observed. The highest densities of Cx. pervigilans were observed in the containers with the smallest surface area. A multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of container surface area and depth on the mean density of mosquito larvae in each container. This analysis showed larval densities significantly decreased with increasing container surface area, for two-thirds of the year. Although fewer Cx. pervigilans were generally observed in similarly sized containers with greater depths, this effect was not statistically significant. The significant effect of container surface area appeared to be related to adult ovipositional preferences, as few observations of predators were made in any of the container treatments. Of the predators that were observed, damselfly larvae and diving beetles tended to be more common in the larger containers. Our results suggest that mosquitoes may have strong preferences based on container size alone that influence larval population dynamics, irrespective of the abundance of aquatic predators.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Seasonal population dynamics of Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in the field.

In order to assess the response of epigeic earthworms to seasonal changes we monitored the population dynamics of Eisenia fetida (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) in a manure heap in the field during a year. Earthworms were hand-sorted from five 0.25 x 0.25 x 0.20 m blocks around the heap in November (autumn) 1999 and in January (winter), April (spring) and August (summer) 2000 to determine earthworm population dynamics. Earthworms of each block were classified into different age classes: mature, preclitellate, juvenile, hatchling and cocoon, and afterwards counted and weighed. Seasonality had a strong effect on the density, biomass and reproductive activity of the population. The population of E. fetida was characterized by a high density of individuals and the predominance of mature individuals throughout the year. Maximum density, mating activity and size of cocoons were achieved in spring, but there were not changes in the number of cocoons per mature earthworm throughout the year. Unexpectedly, the smallest cocoons were produced in winter by the largest individuals. These results suggest that E. fetida is able to allocate resources to growth and/or reproduction in response to environmental fluctuations.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Population dynamics in the Penna model.

We build upon the recent steady-state Penna model solution [J. B. Coe, Y. Mao, and M. E. Cates, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 288103 (2002)] to study the population dynamics within the Penna model. We show that any perturbation to the population can be broken into a collection of modes each of which decay exponentially with its respective time constant. The long time behavior of population is therefore likely to be dominated by the modes with the largest time constants. We confirm our analytical approach with simulation data.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2005

Effect of combined insecticide sprays and sanitation techniques on population dynamics of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the central mountains of Israel.

We conducted an environmental manipulation study over a 7-km2 area to examine the effect of different control levels on the population dynamics of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the central mountains of Israel. Adult male monitoring was carried out from spring to fall during 1988-1991 and year-round from 1994 to 2001. From 1995 to 1997, we manipulated the study area, imposing different levels of control by using a combination of insecticide sprays, tree pruning and removal, and fruit stripping. In the years preceding the manipulation, population dynamics was characterized by a peak summer population size in June-July, followed by a population decrease in August, leading to an early fall peak in September-October. If flies overwinter locally, we expected the intensive control to decrease the early summer population after the control. If flies do not overwinter locally, the control and sanitation activities should not decrease the population level in the following summer. During the entire period discussed, no flies were captured between January and May. The first appearance was recorded in late May or early June, reaching a peak in July. Regardless of control level and extent, the early summer peak remained unchanged during the entire study period, whereas the later fall peak decreased as host density decreased. We suggest that the first peak is the result of a seasonal reinvading population, whereas the later peak is governed by host availability and multiplication of the invading flies. The meaning and possible practical implications of our findings are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effects of an organophosphate on Daphnia magna at suborganismal and organismal levels: implications for population dynamics.

The effects and recovery of 24 h pulse exposure to paraoxon-methyl on Daphnia magna were recorded for various endpoints to study the propagation of effects through various biological levels of organization. Above a threshold concentration (2.2 microgL(-1)), all selected endpoints were affected. Thus, effects at the suborganismal level (e.g., the biomarker response: transient inhibition of cholinesterase (ChE) activity) were accompanied by effects at the organismal (survival, reduction in reproductive performance, decrease in body size) and population (reduced population growth rate) levels. At intermediate and sublethal concentrations, exposure induced a transient ChE inhibition that was also accompanied by effects at the organismal level and that exerted long-term effects on population dynamics. At lower concentrations, although ChE activity was affected, there was no propagation of effects to higher biological levels. This study shows that effects of pulse exposure to organophosphates propagate from the suborganismal level toward the population level and demonstrates the significance of transient ChE inhibition on population dynamics.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Population dynamics of a group of lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) inhabiting a rainforest fragment in the Western Ghats, India.

We observed the overall population dynamics and number of births and deaths in identified individuals between January 2002 and October 2005, in a large group of lion-tailed macaques in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats in the south Indian state of Tamilnadu. The group inhabited an isolated rainforest fragment located inside a private tea/coffee garden. The group size increased from 56 in January 2002 to 84 in October 2005. All females reproduced, and the interbirth interval was 23.18 months. Of the 37 infants born between 2002 and 2005, only 1 died providing an infant survivorship rate of about 97.3%. Although births occurred in all months, most of the infants were born between February and March, and this pattern of births was consistent over the years, indicating a major birth peak in this species. The population growth rate in this unusually large group was found to be higher than even in those groups of lion-tailed macaques that inhabit large and relatively undisturbed rainforest complexes. This high growth rate could be attributed to the availability of abundant cultivated fruit plants including commercial crops such as coffee seeds. The observations provide a perspective for the management of other groups of this endangered species inhabiting rainforest fragments.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Demographic characteristics and population dynamical patterns of solitary birds.

In birds and many other animals, there are large interspecific differences in the magnitude of annual variation in population size. Using time-series data on populations of solitary bird species, we found that fluctuations in population size of solitary birds were affected by the deterministic characteristics of the population dynamics as well as the stochastic factors. In species with highly variable populations, annual variation in recruitment was positively related to the return rate of adults between successive breeding seasons. In stable populations, more recruits were found in years with low return rates of breeding adults. This identifies a gradient, associated with the position of the species along a "slow-fast" continuum of life history variation, from highly variable populations with a recruitment-driven demography to stable, strongly density-regulated populations with a survival-restricted demography. These results suggest that patterns in avian population fluctuations can be predicted from a knowledge of life-history characteristics and/or temporal variation in certain demographic traits.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Population dynamics of Japanese monkeys with special reference to the effect of artificial feeding.

Population dynamics of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) have been studied at Mt. Ryozen, central Japan, between 1969 and 1980. The troop had been artificially fed until August 1973 and, since then, has been living in its natural habitat without artificial feeding. Increase in body weight, primiparous age, age-specific natality, survivorship and mortality, population and biomass growth rate, and age of disappearance of young males were compared between the two study periods, with and without artificial feeding. Comparison of population parameters in each study period was also done between social classes, central and peripheral. As shown, in table VII, it was revealed that artificial feeding was an important factor in population growth and, furthermore, that this effect was mainly on the kin-groups of the central class of the troop. In the natural habitat without artificial feeding most of the population parameters showed almost the same figure for kin-groups of central and peripheral classes.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2003

Combining Gompertzian growth and cell population dynamics.

A two-compartment model of cancer cells population dynamics proposed by Gyllenberg and Webb includes transition rates between proliferating and quiescent cells as non-specified functions of the total population, N. We define the net inter-compartmental transition rate function: Phi(N). We assume that the total cell population follows the Gompertz growth model, as it is most often empirically found and derive Phi(N). The Gyllenberg-Webb transition functions are shown to be characteristically related through Phi(N). Effectively, this leads to a hybrid model for which we find the explicit analytical solutions for proliferating and quiescent cell populations, and the relations among model parameters. Several classes of solutions are examined. Our model predicts that the number of proliferating cells may increase along with the total number of cells, but the proliferating fraction appears to be a continuously decreasing function. The net transition rate of cells is shown to retain direction from the proliferating into the quiescent compartment. The death rate parameter for quiescent cell population is shown to be a factor in determining the proliferation level for a particular Gompertz growth curve.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2006

Microbial population dynamics of kimchi, a fermented cabbage product.

Lactic acid bacteria are known to perform significant roles in the fermentation of kimchi, a fermented cabbage product. However, the microbial population dynamics inherent to kimchi fermentation remain to be clearly elucidated. In this study, we have characterized the microbial dynamics via the identification of a total of 970 bacterial isolates, representing 15 species of the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella, all of which were primarily identified by PCR-based restriction enzyme analysis. These population dynamics appear to be influenced markedly by fermentation temperature. Distinct biphasic microbial growth was observed with preliminary 2-day incubation at 15 degrees C, conducted before main fermentation at -1 degrees C. Leuconostoc citreum, as well as Leuconostoc gasicomitatum, predominated during the first growth phase, whereas Weissella koreensis predominated during the second phase. By way of contrast, with preliminary 4-day incubation at 10 degrees C, only W. koreensis grew rapidly from the beginning of the process. Therefore, our findings suggest that a short incubation at 15 degrees C enhances the growth of the less psychrophilic Leuconostoc species, including Lc. citreum, thus delaying the growth of the predominant W. koreensis, which is a more adaptive species at -1 degrees C.

Brassica↗
PubMed1998

An analysis of the temperature effects of fever on the intra-host population dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum.

Observations that growth of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro is inhibited by high temperatures have led to hypotheses that malaria fever may influence the parasite population dynamics, regulating parasite density and synchronizing parasite growth. In order to investigate the fever hypotheses, we have developed an age-structured coupled Markov chain model that describes the parasite erythrocyte cycle and its interaction with the host fever response. We estimated the model parameters using data collected from laboratory parasite cultures that were exposed to febrile or normal temperature. Using the experimental parameter values, quantitative predictions were made of the effect of fever in determining the parasite population dynamics. It was concluded from the model behaviour that, during the primary infection of a non-immune host, a typical episode of fever can effect density-dependent regulation of the parasite population, maintaining cycles of parasitaemia and promoting synchronous parasite growth.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

Population dynamics of interacting predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus, held on detached bean leaves.

The success of combined release of the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus in suppression of spider mites may be related to the effects of the interactions between the two predators on their population dynamics. We studied population growth and persistence of the specialist P persimilis and the generalist N. californicus reared singly versus reared in combination after simultaneous and successive predator introductions on detached bean leaf arenas with abundant prey, Tetranychus urticae. and with diminishing prey. When reared singly with abundant prey, either predator population persisted at high densities to the end of the experiment. In every predator combination system with abundant prey and various initial predator:predator ratios N. californicus displaced P persimilis. When held singly with diminishing prey, the population of P. persimilis grew initially faster than the population of N. californicus but both species reached similar population peaks. Irrespective whether reared singly or in combination. N. californicus persisted three to five times longer after prey depletion than did P. persimilis. Regarding the crucial interactions in the predator combination systems, we conclude that intraguild predation was a stronger force than food competition and finally resulted in the displacement of P. persimilis. Previous studies showed that intraguild predation between the specialist P. persimilis and the generalist N. californicus is strongly asymmetric favoring the generalist. We discuss the implications of potential interactions between P. persimilis and N. californicus to biological control of spider mites.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The scale transition: scaling up population dynamics with field data.

Applying the recent developments of scale transition theory, we demonstrate a systematic approach to the problem of scaling up local scale interactions to regional scale dynamics with field data. Dynamics on larger spatial scales differ from the predictions of local dynamics alone because of an interaction between nonlinearity in population dynamics at the local scale and spatial variation in density and environmental factors over the regional population. Our systematic approach to scaling up involves the following five steps. First, define a model for dynamics on the local spatial scale. Second, apply scale transition theory to identify key interactions between nonlinearity and spatial variation that translate local dynamics to the regional scale. Third, measure local-scale model parameters to determine nonlinearities at local scales. Fourth, measure spatial variation. Finally, combine nonlinearity and variation measures to obtain the scale transition. Using field data for the dynamics of grazers and periphyton in a freshwater stream, we show that scale transition terms greatly reduce the growth and equilibrium density of the periphyton population at the stream scale compared to rock scale populations, confirming the importance of spatial mechanisms to stream-scale dynamics.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed2005

Population dynamics models in plant-insect herbivore-pesticide interactions.

We consider several population dynamics models in investigating data from controlled experiments with aphids in broccoli patches surrounded by different margin types (bare or weedy ground) and three levels of insecticide spray (no, light, or heavy spray). We carry out parameter estimation computations along with statistical analysis to compare autonomous versus non-autonomous model dynamics. We conclude with a brief discussion of some not-so-subtle pitfalls that can arise when using quantitative measures of model fit-to-data to make biological inferences as well as offer a positive example of how one might combine a priori biological hypothesis and intuition with rather sophisticated (from a field biology viewpoint) mathematical methodologies to suggest synergisms.

Animals↗