Animal Life Cycle Models (Poikilotherms)

This chapter presents the history, theoretical bases, and applications of phenology models applied to poikilothermspoikilotherms with particular emphasis on insects. Insect phenology models are based on mathematical expressions of the relationship between temperature and development ratedevelopment rate called thermal performance curves (TPCs). We describe the two main classes of TPCs: phenomenological and biophysical. We discuss how TPCs are integrated in life-cycle models using rate summation and circle mapscircle maps. We discuss approaches to scale phenology models from individual to population levels. Finally, we illustrate the application of these concepts with a case study of a boreal forest defoliator, the Eastern spruce budwormspruce budworm.