Day-degree

Definition

A unit of measurement representing the accumulated heat experienced by an organism over a period of time, typically used to estimate the development or activity of insects.

Etymology

From 'day' and 'degree', signifying the duration of exposure to temperature changes.

Example

The development of many insect species is directly correlated with the number of day-degrees accumulated.

Related Terms

• Thermal units
• Heat units
• Growing degree days

Usage Notes

Day-degrees are calculated based on a specific temperature threshold and can vary depending on the organism's sensitivity to temperature fluctuations.