On Defining "Breeding Once"

Abstract

We discuss the problem of deciding the meaning of the term "breeding once" with reference to life history observations on insects, arachnids, and plants. A basic difficulty lies in not separating within-season from between-season patterns of reproduction. Using two general life history models (for continuous and discrete time, respectively), we provide an operational definition of "breeding once." We also suggest more-precise terminology than that currently in use.