Experimental Disentangling of the Effects of Initial Population Size and Resource Availability on Weevil Population Dynamics
ABSTRACT Initial population size and resource availability are key drivers of population dynamics. However, the synergistic effects of initial population size and resource availability on intrinsic growth rates remain poorly understood. We conducted an experiment using maize weevils ( Sitophilus zeamais Boisduval 1835; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to disentangle the effects of these two factors on intrinsic growth rates. We simulated closed populations with initial sizes of 8, 16, and 32 individuals, while varying resource availability (maize seeds) proportionally: 70 g for 8 individuals, 140 g for 16 individuals, and 280 g for 32 individuals. Growth models were fitted for each population, and the estimated intrinsic growth rate served as the response variable to assess the effects of initial population size and resource availability. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, variance partitioning, and linear regression. Both initial population size and resource availability negatively affected intrinsic growth rates, with no significant interaction between them. We propose that initial population size intensifies density dependence, whereas resource availability acts as a mate‐finding barrier. Our findings highlight an additional critical driver of population dynamics, the barrier effect, beyond the conventional factors of initial population size and resource availability.
Authors
- Jorge M. F. Carvalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7055-5907)
- Puri Veiga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5706-465X)
- Beatriz dos Santos Silva
- Isabella do Nascimento Oliveira Gomes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9367-0190)
- Marcelo Trindade Nascimento (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4492-3344)
- A. Jesus
- Laiara Fernandes Rocha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0438-0958)
- Mar Cortes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2828-8504)
- Andréia Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6714-5939)
- Thais Karine dos Santos Santana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6421-9684)
- L. Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1028-6264)
- Guilherme de Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3165-5088)
- Roberto Leonan Morim Novaes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1657-2807)
- Vanessa Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2336-4208)
- Guilherme Barros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1758-7509)
- Ricardo Rodrigues Nunes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7557-2121)
- Eugenio Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3565-0321)
- Claudiane de Lima Braz
- Paula Martins
- Luísa Oliveira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2910-2794)
- Evelyn Cristina Conceição Gomes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7666-6366)
- Alecsandra Sobreira de Lima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9733-9622)
- Marilene Trindade
- Adrianne Gabriela Cedro de Souza Novaes
- Maria Fernanda Nascimento Velame
Institutions
- Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
- Published
- 2025-09-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70016
- Primary Topic
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00