Data from: Development time, survival, and performance of Lepidoptera reared at constant temperatures

This dataset is a compilation of lepidopteran development and survival
rates measured at constant temperatures in the laboratory and reported in
peer-reviewed publications. We compiled these data to reconstruct thermal
performance curves. Thermal performance curves (TPCs) depict variation in
vital rates in response to temperature and have been an important tool to
understand ecological and evolutionary constraints on the thermal
sensitivity of ectotherms. TPCs allow for the calculation of indicators of
thermal tolerance, such as minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures that
allow for a given metabolic function. However, these indicators are
computed using only responses from surviving individuals, which can lead
to underestimation of deleterious effects of thermal stress, particularly
at high temperatures. We advocate for an integrative framework for
assessing thermal sensitivity, which combines both vital rates and
survival probabilities, and focuses on the temperature interval that
allows for population persistence. Using a collated data set of
lepidopteran development rate and survival measured on the same
individuals, we showed (see associated publication) that development rate
is generally limiting at low temperatures, while survival is limiting at
high temperatures. We also uncover differences between life stages and
across latitudes, with extended survival at lower temperatures in
temperate regions. Our combined performance metric demonstrates similar
thermal breadth in temperate and tropical individuals, an effect that only
emerges from integration of both development and survival trends. We
discuss the benefits of using this framework in future predictive and
management contexts.