Modelling temperature-dependent development rate and phenology in arthropods: The devRate package for r

Abstract

Thermal biologists are interested in generating paired data on development rates and temperatures, but they are in need of automated tools to accurately analyse this data. Fed with a database of more than 30 existing development models, the devRate package provides tools for plotting and visualizing data, selecting the most appropriate model, and mapping and forecasting ectotherm phenology using temperature time-series data. Most proposed models are for arthropods, mainly insects (e.g. Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera). This paper presents the main functions of the package and provides an example using an empirical dataset. The devRate package provides investigators with a unique set of tools and a database that allows them to fit development rate models, and to compare arthropod response to temperature.