Date of Award

5-2000

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Mathematics and Statistics

Committee Chair(s)

James A. Powell

Committee

James A. Powell

Committee

Jesse A. Logan

Committee

D. Richard Cutler

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss how seasonal temperature variation and dormancy can synchronize the development of exothermic organisms. Using a simple aging model, it is shown that minimal seasonal temperature variation and periods of dormancy during extreme temperature conditions are sufficient to establish stable, univoltine ovipositional cycles. Dormancy, in fact, promotes synchronous oviposition emergence. The mountain pine beetle, an important insect living in extreme temperature conditions and showing no evidence of diapause, invites direct application of this model. Simulations using mountain pine beetle parameters are used to determine temperature regimes for which stable, ovipositional cycles exist.

Included in

Mathematics Commons

Share

COinS