Simpson College House Fly Research
Simpson College
House Fly Research Project 2010
Students at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa are working on a research project in biological mathematics. Blaise Mikels, Stephen Henrich, Jeanie Mullen, and Jill Jessee, under the mentorship of Drs. Heidi Berger and Clinton Meyer, are exploring the application of time scales calculus to growth rates in insect populations. This research is funded by a pair of grants from the Iowa Science Foundation and the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics.
Abstract: Development of poikilotherms, such as insects, is highly dependent on temperature regimes rather than the passage of time. Due to temporal temperature fluctuations over the growing season, sampling at regular time intervals may incorrectly estimate population parameters. The project will assess standard sampling regimes in insects, which are typically evenly spaced temporally. Our hypothesis is that sampling with evenly spaced time intervals alone will skew resultant population growth estimates of house flies in Iowa. Discrepancies between real and apparent population growth rates can result in incorrect estimates of pest populations that pose a health risk to livestock.
Abstract: Development of poikilotherms, such as insects, is highly dependent on temperature regimes rather than the passage of time. Due to temporal temperature fluctuations over the growing season, sampling at regular time intervals may incorrectly estimate population parameters. The project will assess standard sampling regimes in insects, which are typically evenly spaced temporally. Our hypothesis is that sampling with evenly spaced time intervals alone will skew resultant population growth estimates of house flies in Iowa. Discrepancies between real and apparent population growth rates can result in incorrect estimates of pest populations that pose a health risk to livestock.
