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. 1980 May;45(2):202-208.
doi: 10.1007/BF00346461.

Optimizing development time in a seasonal environment: The 'ups and downs' of clinal variation

Derek Roff  1
Affiliations

Optimizing development time in a seasonal environment: The 'ups and downs' of clinal variation

Derek Roff. Oecologia. 1980 May.

Abstract

This paper explores the problem of adapting development time to changes in the length of time conditions are favourable for growth and reproduction ('season length'). It is shown that systematic changes in season length along some gradient such as latitude can generate either simple clines in development time or 'saw-tooth' clines. The relationship between development time and body size gives rise to a corresponding variation in body size. The generation of a 'saw-tooth' cline does not require sharp environmental changes. Both types of clinal variation are observed in insects.

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