title: Statistical estimation of degree days of mosquito development under fluctuating temperatures in the field.
abstract: Degree-days are important parameters for developing predictive models of mosquito populations. Conventional methods of estimation of degree-days are typically applied to observations under constant temperatures in the laboratory. These methods are difficult to apply in the field where temperatures fluctuate. For estimating degree-days of larval developments of mosquitoes in the field, we applied Dennis' stochastic phenological model to a semi-field observation of Culex restuans. A parametric bootstrap approach was introduced to estimate standard errors of the parameters. We found that the estimated degree-days varied with various assumptions about the temperature base. Given the latter, the model can satisfactorily estimate the degree-days of larval and pupal developments of Cx. resturans. This approach is especially useful to measure spatio-temporal variability in larval development among various types of aquatic habitats.
authors.affiliation: Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr, Champaign, IL 61820, USA.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000254:growth & development*; D004777:Environment; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D008954:Models, Biological; D013696:Temperature