Geographical Information Systems: Climatic and Landscape Patterns Associated with Cicada Emergence in Eastern North America
Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-9-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-9-2026 3:15 PM
Description of Program
This project uses GIS to analyze how river systems, hydric soils, land cover, climate zones, and human density relate to periodical cicada emergence in eastern North America. Results show strong spatial autocorrelation with major rivers and a positive association with hydric soils, suggesting these features support cicada development and synchronized emergence.
Abstract
Periodical cicadas emergence patterns may be influenced by environmental conditions such as climate, habitat, soil characteristics, and anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding how these associations correlate with cicada emergence data may provide insight into the environmental factors that drive cicada development and synchronized emergence. This study used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layers to examine spatial relationships between cicada emergence observations and climate zones in the United States. Cicada emergence points were overlaid with state boundaries, land use and land cover types (LandSat VIII), climate zones, soil types (USDA), human density (Tiger files), and river systems to identify associated environmental patterns. I predict that cicada emergence will be primarily spatially autocorrelated with river systems. Second, cicada emergence with be positively corrected with hydric soils. The majority of observations were located near major river systems, which indicates a strong spatial autocorrelation with stream systems. Additional clusters were found in areas characterized by hydric soils. No emergence points were associated with arid or excessively well-draining regions. These patterns reflect spatial associations rather than causation; the results show that proximity to rivers and the presence of hydric soils may provide the environmental conditions that support cicada development and synchronized emergence.
Identify Grant
Funded in part by the NSF Optimization Computing Grant
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
John Yunger
Geographical Information Systems: Climatic and Landscape Patterns Associated with Cicada Emergence in Eastern North America
University Library
Periodical cicadas emergence patterns may be influenced by environmental conditions such as climate, habitat, soil characteristics, and anthropogenic disturbance. Understanding how these associations correlate with cicada emergence data may provide insight into the environmental factors that drive cicada development and synchronized emergence. This study used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) layers to examine spatial relationships between cicada emergence observations and climate zones in the United States. Cicada emergence points were overlaid with state boundaries, land use and land cover types (LandSat VIII), climate zones, soil types (USDA), human density (Tiger files), and river systems to identify associated environmental patterns. I predict that cicada emergence will be primarily spatially autocorrelated with river systems. Second, cicada emergence with be positively corrected with hydric soils. The majority of observations were located near major river systems, which indicates a strong spatial autocorrelation with stream systems. Additional clusters were found in areas characterized by hydric soils. No emergence points were associated with arid or excessively well-draining regions. These patterns reflect spatial associations rather than causation; the results show that proximity to rivers and the presence of hydric soils may provide the environmental conditions that support cicada development and synchronized emergence.