Divergence of discrete-- versus continuous--time calculations of the
temperature dependence of maximum population growth rate in a disease
vector
Abstract
The temperature dependence of maximal population growth rate
(rm) is key to predicting ectotherm responses to
climatic change. Matrix projection models (MPMs) are used to calculate
rm because they can incorporate variation and
inherent time-delays in underlying life-history traits. However, MPM
calculations can be laborious and do not reflect time’s continuous
nature. Ordinary differential equation-based models (ODEMs) offer a
relatively tractable alternative, but it is largely unknown whether
ODEM-based calculations and MPM broadly agree when environmental
variation affects temperature–dependent rm by
introducing time-delays and altering juvenile survival trajectories. We
investigate differences in predicted temperature-dependent
rm from an ODEM with that calculated from MPMs
using temperature– and resource-dependent life-history trait data for
the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. We show that discrete- and
continuous-time calculations of temperature-dependent
rm can vary with resource availability and are
sensitive to juvenile survival characterisations, suggesting ODEMs can
provide comparable temperature–dependent rm
calculations unless resources are constraining.