title: A general rule for the dependence of developmental rate on temperature in ectothermic animals.
abstract: In animals that do not regulate their body temperature by the production of heat, the proportion of the total developmental time spent in a particular developmental stage does not change with temperature. In the quasi-linear region of the relationship between developmental rate and temperature, all of the developmental stages appear to have the same species-specific lower developmental threshold. This trait, which is called developmental isomorphy, constrains developmental adaptations of ectotherms to their environments and facilitates the precise timing of life-history events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Vinicni 7, CZ 128 44 Prague 2, Czech Republic. jarosik@mbox.cesnet.cz
authors.forename: Vojtech
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jarosík
authors.forename: Lukás
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kratochvíl
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honek
authors.forename: Anthony F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000254:growth & development*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors