| Abstrakt: |
Abstract: This paper takes a deliberately broad view of the ultimate purposes, the structures and the contols of dormancy responses in insects. Dormancies have multiple purposes (Tab. 1); in particular, they serve not only to survive adverse seasons but also to ensure that activity and development take place at favourable times of year. Many elements can contribute to the structure of the responses (Tab. 3) including different types and different extents of delay, control, sensitivity, default conditions, components, pathways and variability. Control options come from a range of internal and external factors (Tab. 4). The multiplicity, complexity and integration of the various facets of dormancy confirm that responses are dynamic and hence are y no means equivalent to simple on-off devices. Consequently, dormancy responses are best understood by considering whole life cycles in the context of whole environments, normally requiring studies that go beyond the simple approaches that are still prevalent. |
