The spatial scale of time-lagged population synchrony increases with species dispersal distance

摘要

Aim: Time-lagged population synchrony, where spatially separated populations show similar fluctuations in abundance lagged over time, is thought to be driven by dispersal among populations. When dispersal is proportional to population density or positively density dependent, and individuals move readily from population A to population B, then as population A increases, the increased number of dispersers from population A to B will cause a subsequent increase in population B. If true, then time-lagged synchrony should be strongest at a species' typical dispersal distance, because the rate of exchange between populations will be greatest at that distance.