Advances in understanding the drivers of population spatial synchrony

The causes of spatial synchrony in population dynamics are often elusive. We review how recent advances have enhanced understanding of the causes of the spatial synchrony of insect populations and revealed previously underappreciated complexities in patterns of synchrony. We highlight how regional-scale studies of population genetic structure have helped elucidate the role of dispersal in population synchronization and how novel data-analytic approaches have revealed variation in spatial synchrony across timescales and geographies and the underlying drivers. We also stress the limited current understanding of the impacts of climate change on the spatial synchrony of insect populations and the potential ramifications of these effects for pest management as well as species conservation. •The fluctuations of spatially disjunct populations are often correlated through time.•Such spatial synchrony can impact pest management and species conservation.•Recent approaches have enhanced understanding of spatial synchrony and its causes.•Advances include exploring population genetics, timescale, and geographic variation.•Climate-change impacts on spatial synchrony are critical research frontiers.