1
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Cooper NW, Dossman BC, Berrigan LE, Brown JM, Cormier DA, Bégin-Marchand C, Rodewald AD, Taylor PD, Tremblay JA, Marra PP. Atmospheric pressure predicts probability of departure for migratory songbirds. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:23. [PMID: 37122025 PMCID: PMC10150475 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00356-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Weather can have both delayed and immediate impacts on animal populations, and species have evolved behavioral adaptions to respond to weather conditions. Weather has long been hypothesized to affect the timing and intensity of avian migration, and radar studies have demonstrated strong correlations between weather and broad-scale migration patterns. How weather affects individual decisions about the initiation of migratory flights, particularly at the beginning of migration, remains uncertain. METHODS Here, we combine automated radio telemetry data from four species of songbirds collected at five breeding and wintering sites in North America with hourly weather data from a global weather model. We use these data to determine how wind profit, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, and cloud cover affect probability of departure from breeding and wintering sites. RESULTS We found that the probability of departure was related to changes in atmospheric pressure, almost completely regardless of species, season, or location. Individuals were more likely to depart on nights when atmospheric pressure had been rising over the past 24 h, which is predictive of fair weather over the next several days. By contrast, wind profit, precipitation, and cloud cover were each only informative predictors of departure probability in a single species. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that individual birds actively use weather information to inform decision-making regarding the initiation of departure from the breeding and wintering grounds. We propose that birds likely choose which date to depart on migration in a hierarchical fashion with weather not influencing decision-making until after the departure window has already been narrowed down by other ultimate and proximate factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Cooper
- Migratory Bird Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, MRC 5503, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20013, USA.
| | - Bryant C Dossman
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Lucas E Berrigan
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
- Motus Wildlife Tracking System, Birds Canada, Port Rowan, ON, N0E 1M0, Canada
| | - J Morgan Brown
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 0E9, Canada
| | - Dominic A Cormier
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Camille Bégin-Marchand
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Amanda D Rodewald
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Philip D Taylor
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, 33 Westwood Avenue, Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Junior A Tremblay
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1550 Av. D'Estimauville, Québec, QC, G1J 0C3, Canada
| | - Peter P Marra
- Department of Biology and McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
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Christmas MJ, Kaplow IM, Genereux DP, Dong MX, Hughes GM, Li X, Sullivan PF, Hindle AG, Andrews G, Armstrong JC, Bianchi M, Breit AM, Diekhans M, Fanter C, Foley NM, Goodman DB, Goodman L, Keough KC, Kirilenko B, Kowalczyk A, Lawless C, Lind AL, Meadows JRS, Moreira LR, Redlich RW, Ryan L, Swofford R, Valenzuela A, Wagner F, Wallerman O, Brown AR, Damas J, Fan K, Gatesy J, Grimshaw J, Johnson J, Kozyrev SV, Lawler AJ, Marinescu VD, Morrill KM, Osmanski A, Paulat NS, Phan BN, Reilly SK, Schäffer DE, Steiner C, Supple MA, Wilder AP, Wirthlin ME, Xue JR, Birren BW, Gazal S, Hubley RM, Koepfli KP, Marques-Bonet T, Meyer WK, Nweeia M, Sabeti PC, Shapiro B, Smit AFA, Springer MS, Teeling EC, Weng Z, Hiller M, Levesque DL, Lewin HA, Murphy WJ, Navarro A, Paten B, Pollard KS, Ray DA, Ruf I, Ryder OA, Pfenning AR, Lindblad-Toh K, Karlsson EK. Evolutionary constraint and innovation across hundreds of placental mammals. Science 2023; 380:eabn3943. [PMID: 37104599 PMCID: PMC10250106 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Zoonomia is the largest comparative genomics resource for mammals produced to date. By aligning genomes for 240 species, we identify bases that, when mutated, are likely to affect fitness and alter disease risk. At least 332 million bases (~10.7%) in the human genome are unusually conserved across species (evolutionarily constrained) relative to neutrally evolving repeats, and 4552 ultraconserved elements are nearly perfectly conserved. Of 101 million significantly constrained single bases, 80% are outside protein-coding exons and half have no functional annotations in the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) resource. Changes in genes and regulatory elements are associated with exceptional mammalian traits, such as hibernation, that could inform therapeutic development. Earth's vast and imperiled biodiversity offers distinctive power for identifying genetic variants that affect genome function and organismal phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Christmas
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irene M. Kaplow
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | | | - Michael X. Dong
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Graham M. Hughes
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Xue Li
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Patrick F. Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina Medical School, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Allyson G. Hindle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Gregory Andrews
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Joel C. Armstrong
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Matteo Bianchi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ana M. Breit
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
| | - Mark Diekhans
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Cornelia Fanter
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Nicole M. Foley
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Daniel B. Goodman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Kathleen C. Keough
- Fauna Bio, Inc., Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bogdan Kirilenko
- Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Amanda Kowalczyk
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Colleen Lawless
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Abigail L. Lind
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Jennifer R. S. Meadows
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lucas R. Moreira
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ruby W. Redlich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Louise Ryan
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Ross Swofford
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alejandro Valenzuela
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Franziska Wagner
- Museum of Zoology, Senckenberg Natural History Collections Dresden, 01109 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ola Wallerman
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ashley R. Brown
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Joana Damas
- The Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Kaili Fan
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - John Gatesy
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Jenna Grimshaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Jeremy Johnson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sergey V. Kozyrev
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alyssa J. Lawler
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Voichita D. Marinescu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kathleen M. Morrill
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Austin Osmanski
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Nicole S. Paulat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Steven K. Reilly
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Daniel E. Schäffer
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Cynthia Steiner
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Megan A. Supple
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Aryn P. Wilder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
| | - Morgan E. Wirthlin
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James R. Xue
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Bruce W. Birren
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steven Gazal
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | | | - Klaus-Peter Koepfli
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
- Computer Technologies Laboratory, ITMO University, St. Petersburg 197101, Russia
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation, George Mason University, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wynn K. Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Martin Nweeia
- Department of Comprehensive Care, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2R1, Canada
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20002, USA
- Narwhal Genome Initiative, Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - Mark S. Springer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Emma C. Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael Hiller
- Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Harris A. Lewin
- The Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- John Muir Institute for the Environment, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - William J. Murphy
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Arcadi Navarro
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- BarcelonaBeta Brain Research Center, Pasqual Maragall Foundation, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benedict Paten
- Genomics Institute, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Katherine S. Pollard
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - David A. Ray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Irina Ruf
- Division of Messel Research and Mammalogy, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Oliver A. Ryder
- Conservation Genetics, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA 92027, USA
- Department of Evolution, Behavior and Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
| | - Andreas R. Pfenning
- Department of Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, 751 32 Uppsala, Sweden
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elinor K. Karlsson
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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3
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Gall AJ, Shuboni-Mulligan DD. Keep Your Mask On: The Benefits of Masking for Behavior and the Contributions of Aging and Disease on Dysfunctional Masking Pathways. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:911153. [PMID: 36017187 PMCID: PMC9395722 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.911153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental cues (e.g., light-dark cycle) have an immediate and direct effect on behavior, but these cues are also capable of “masking” the expression of the circadian pacemaker, depending on the type of cue presented, the time-of-day when they are presented, and the temporal niche of the organism. Masking is capable of complementing entrainment, the process by which an organism is synchronized to environmental cues, if the cues are presented at an expected or predictable time-of-day, but masking can also disrupt entrainment if the cues are presented at an inappropriate time-of-day. Therefore, masking is independent of but complementary to the biological circadian pacemaker that resides within the brain (i.e., suprachiasmatic nucleus) when exogenous stimuli are presented at predictable times of day. Importantly, environmental cues are capable of either inducing sleep or wakefulness depending on the organism’s temporal niche; therefore, the same presentation of a stimulus can affect behavior quite differently in diurnal vs. nocturnal organisms. There is a growing literature examining the neural mechanisms underlying masking behavior based on the temporal niche of the organism. However, the importance of these mechanisms in governing the daily behaviors of mammals and the possible implications on human health have been gravely overlooked even as modern society enables the manipulation of these environmental cues. Recent publications have demonstrated that the effects of masking weakens significantly with old age resulting in deleterious effects on many behaviors, including sleep and wakefulness. This review will clearly outline the history, definition, and importance of masking, the environmental cues that induce the behavior, the neural mechanisms that drive them, and the possible implications for human health and medicine. New insights about how masking is affected by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, temporal niche, and age will be discussed as each relates to human health. The overarching goals of this review include highlighting the importance of masking in the expression of daily rhythms, elucidating the impact of aging, discussing the relationship between dysfunctional masking behavior and the development of sleep-related disorders, and considering the use of masking as a non-invasive treatment to help treat humans suffering from sleep-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Gall
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Hope College, Holland, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Andrew J. Gall,
| | - Dorela D. Shuboni-Mulligan
- Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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4
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Zhang VY, Gagorik CN, Brenner LJ, Boser CL, Theimer TC, Buck CL. Interspecific Asymmetries in Behavioral Plasticity Drive Seasonal Patterns of Temporal Niche Partitioning in an Island Carnivore Community. Integr Comp Biol 2022; 62:998-1011. [PMID: 35803500 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icac113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals vary considerably in the amount of behavioral plasticity they exhibit in daily activity timing and temporal niche switching. It is not well understood how environmental factors drive changes in temporal activity or how interspecific differences in the plasticity of activity timing ultimately manifest in free-living animals. Here, we investigated the temporal structure and organization of activity patterns of two insular mammalian carnivores living in sympatry, the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) and island spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphiala). Using collar-mounted accelerometers, we assessed the plasticity of behavioral activity rhythms in foxes and skunks by investigating how environmental factors drive the distribution of locomotor activity across the day and year, and subsequently examined the dynamics of temporal niche overlap between the two species. We documented that foxes express phenotypic plasticity in daily activity timing across the year, ranging from nocturnal to diurnal to crepuscular rhythms depending on individual and time of year. Most notably, foxes increased the proportion of daytime activity as seasonal temperatures decreased. Overall, activity patterns of foxes were consistent with the circadian thermoenergetics hypothesis, which posits that animals that switch their patterns of activity do so to coincide with the most energetically favorable time of day. In contrast to foxes, skunks exhibited little behavioral plasticity, appearing strictly nocturnal across the year. While the duration of skunk activity bouts increased with the duration of night, timing of activity onset and offset extended into daytime hours during summer when the duration of darkness was shortest. Analysis of temporal niche overlap between foxes and skunks suggested that niche overlap was highest during summer and lowest during winter and was dictated primarily by temporal niche switching in foxes, rather than skunks. Collectively, our results highlight how interspecific asymmetries in behavioral plasticity drive dynamic patterns of temporal niche overlap within an island carnivore community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Y Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | | | - Tad C Theimer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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5
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Farsi H, Harti D, Rachid Achaâban M, Piro M, Ouassat M, Challet E, Pévet P, El Allali K. Seasonal variations in locomotor activity rhythm and diurnal activity in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) under mesic semi-natural conditions. Chronobiol Int 2021; 39:129-150. [PMID: 34965824 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2021.1984936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a large ungulate that copes well with the xeric environment of the desert. Its peculiar adaptation to heat and dehydration is well-known. However, its behavior and general activity is far from being completely understood. The present study was carried out to investigate the ecological effect of the various seasons on the locomotor activity (LA) rhythm and diurnal activity of this species. Six adult female camels were maintained under mesic semi-natural conditions of the environment during four periods of 10 days in each season: autumn, winter, spring and summer. In addition, three female camels were used to test the effect of rain on the LA rhythm during a period of 18 days during the winter. The animal's LA was recorded using the locomotion scoring method. Camels displayed a clear 24.0h LA rhythm throughout the four seasons. Activity was intense during Day-time (6-22 fold higher in comparison to night) and dropped or completely disappeared during nighttime. Mean daytime total activity was significantly higher in the summer as compared to winter. Regardless of the season, the active phase in camels coincided with the time of the photophase and thermophase. Furthermore, the daily duration of the time spent active was directly correlated to the seasonal changes of photoperiod. The diurnal activity remained unchanged over the four seasons. For each season, the start and the end of the active phase were synchronized with the onset of sunrise and sunset. At these time periods, temperature remained incredibly stable with a change ranging from 0.002 to 0.210°C; whereas, changes of light intensity were greater and faster with a change from 0.1 to 600 lux representing a variation of 3215-7192 fold in just 25-29 min. Rainfall affected the pattern of the LA rhythm with occurrence of abnormal nocturnal activity during nighttime disturbing nocturnal rest and sleep. Here we show that the dromedary camel exhibits significant seasonal changes of its activity within daylight hours. However, the diurnal pattern remains unchanged regardless of the season; whereas, abnormal nocturnal activity is observed during periods of rain. The activity onset and offset in this species seems to be primarily driven by the changes in light intensity at dusk and dawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hicham Farsi
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Driss Harti
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Rachid Achaâban
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Piro
- Medicine and Surgical Unit of Domestic Animals, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Ouassat
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Etienne Challet
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Khalid El Allali
- cComparative Anatomy Unit, Department of Biological and Pharmacological Veterinary Sciences, Hassan IInd Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine Institute, Rabat, Morocco
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6
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Bano-Otalora B, Rol MA, Madrid JA. Behavioral and Thermoregulatory Responses to Changes in Ambient Temperature and Wheel Running Availability in Octodon degus. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:684988. [PMID: 34276317 PMCID: PMC8278234 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.684988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Octodon degus is primarily a diurnal species, however, in laboratory conditions, it can switch from diurnal to nocturnal in response to wheel running availability. It has been proposed that this activity inversion obeys thermoregulatory constraints induced by vigorous physical exercise. Thus, its activity shifts to the night as the ambient temperature is lower.Here, we investigate the relationship between thermoregulation and the activity phase-inversion in response to wheel-running in this species. We measured behavioral activity and body temperature rhythms in diurnal naïve animals under 12 h light: 12 h dark cycles at four different ambient temperatures (spanning from ~26°C to 32°C), and following access to running wheels while maintained under high ambient temperature.Our results show that naïve degus do not shift their diurnal activity and body temperature rhythms to a nocturnal phase when subjected to sequential increases in ambient temperature. However, when they were provided with wheels under constant high-temperature conditions, all animals inverted their diurnal phase preference becoming nocturnal. Both, negative masking by light and entrainment to the dark phase appeared involved in the nocturnalism of these animals. Analysis of the thermoregulatory response to wheel running revealed some differences between masked and entrained nocturnal chronotypes.These data highlight the importance of the coupling between wheel running availability and ambient temperature in the nocturnalism of the degus. The results support the view that an innate "protective" pre-program mechanism (associating darkness and lower ambient temperature) may change the timing of behavioral activity in this species to reduce the potential risk of hyperthermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bano-Otalora
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Campus Mare Nostrum, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Maria Angeles Rol
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Campus Mare Nostrum, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Madrid
- Chronobiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Espinardo, Campus Mare Nostrum, IUIE, IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
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7
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Jha PK, Bouâouda H, Kalsbeek A, Challet E. Distinct feedback actions of behavioural arousal to the master circadian clock in nocturnal and diurnal mammals. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 123:48-60. [PMID: 33440199 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus provides a temporal pattern of sleep and wake that - like many other behavioural and physiological rhythms - is oppositely phased in nocturnal and diurnal animals. The SCN primarily uses environmental light, perceived through the retina, to synchronize its endogenous circadian rhythms with the exact 24 h light/dark cycle of the outside world. The light responsiveness of the SCN is maximal during the night in both nocturnal and diurnal species. Behavioural arousal during the resting period not only perturbs sleep homeostasis, but also acts as a potent non-photic synchronizing cue. The feedback action of arousal on the SCN is mediated by processes involving several brain nuclei and neurotransmitters, which ultimately change the molecular functions of SCN pacemaker cells. Arousing stimuli during the sleeping period differentially affect the circadian system of nocturnal and diurnal species, as evidenced by the different circadian windows of sensitivity to behavioural arousal. In addition, arousing stimuli reduce and increase light resetting in nocturnal and diurnal species, respectively. It is important to address further question of circadian impairments associated with shift work and trans-meridian travel not only in the standard nocturnal laboratory animals but also in diurnal animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawan Kumar Jha
- Circadian Clocks and Metabolism Team, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, France; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Hypothalamic Integration Mechanisms, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Hanan Bouâouda
- Circadian Clocks and Metabolism Team, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, France
| | - Andries Kalsbeek
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center (AUMC), University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Hypothalamic Integration Mechanisms, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Etienne Challet
- Circadian Clocks and Metabolism Team, Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, France
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8
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Octodon degus: a natural model of multimorbidity for ageing research. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 64:101204. [PMID: 33152453 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Integrating the multifactorial processes co-occurring in both physiological and pathological human conditions still remains one of the main challenges in translational investigation. Moreover, the impact of age-associated disorders has increased, which underlines the urgent need to find a feasible model that could help in the development of successful therapies. In this sense, the Octodon degus has been indicated as a 'natural' model in many biomedical areas, especially in ageing. This rodent shows complex social interactions and high sensitiveness to early-stressful events, which have been used to investigate neurodevelopmental processes. Interestingly, a high genetic similarity with some key proteins implicated in human diseases, such as apolipoprotein-E, β-amyloid or insulin, has been demonstrated. On the other hand, the fact that this animal is diurnal has provided important contribution in the field of circadian biology. Concerning age-related diseases, this rodent could be a good model of multimorbidity since it naturally develops cognitive decline, neurodegenerative histopathological hallmarks, visual degeneration, type II diabetes, endocrinological and metabolic dysfunctions, neoplasias and kidneys alterations. In this review we have collected and summarized the studies performed on the Octodon degus through the years that support its use as a model for biomedical research, with a special focus on ageing.
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9
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Kumar D, Soni SK, Kronfeld-Schor N, Singaravel M. Wheel-running activity rhythms and masking responses in the diurnal palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii. Chronobiol Int 2020; 37:1693-1708. [PMID: 33044096 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1826959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have reported activity patterns of various diurnal species from the order Rodentia, in which most of the species are nocturnal. Most of these studies have been performed under controlled laboratory conditions. These studies found that most of these species change their activity patterns when held under laboratory conditions, have a diverse masking response to light, and their activity pattern is influenced by the presence of a running wheel. Squirrels are reported to be strictly diurnal both in the field as well as in laboratory settings, and, therefore, form an interesting species to study to better understand the switch to diurnality. The aim of the current study is to characterize the masking response and temporal organization of wheel-running activity rhythms in the palm squirrel, Funambulus pennantii, under semi-natural (NLD) and controlled laboratory conditions using different lighting schedules. Squirrels were housed individually in a resting cage with running wheel under NLD (n = 10) and squared 12:12 h of light-dark cycle (LD) (n = 20). After stable entrainment under the LD condition, squirrels were divided into two groups. One group was housed under constant darkness (DD) (n = 10) and another group under constant light (LL) (n = 10). Following the stable free-running rhythm under DD and LL, the LD condition was reinforced. The kinetics of the endogenous pacemaker was studied following a 6 h phase advance or delay of LD cycle. Further, palm squirrels were subjected to a 3.5: 3.5 h LD cycle to evaluate the masking response to light and dark. Squirrels demonstrated stable, clear, robust, and strict diurnal activity rhythm during NLD and LD. In DD and LL, F. pennantii free-ran from the phase of the previous LD cycle, and the free-running period was longer in LL than in DD. The percentage of activity during the light phase was significantly higher in NLD and LD (above 96%) compared to activity during the subjective day in the DD and LL conditions (above 91%). The alpha/rho ratio was significantly higher in the LL compared to other lighting schedules. Further, all ten squirrels re-entrained to both 6 h advance and delay shifts within 11 days. In the ultradian cycle, significant positive masking of light was evident in nine of ten squirrels. These results suggest that the: (i) circadian system of F. pennantii is stable and functional under various lighting conditions; (ii) basic temporal organization in activity pattern remained unaltered even in the presence of a running wheel; (iii) diurnality is the inherent trait of F. pennantii, and (iv) behavioral activity rhythms are governed by both the circadian clock and external masking. Thus, palm squirrels can be used as a suitable diurnal model in circadian biology to study the underlying mechanisms of diurnality and effects of different light schedules, wavelengths, and non-photic cues on physiological and behavioral parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanananajay Kumar
- Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi, India.,Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) , Varanasi, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Soni
- Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi, India
| | - Noga Kronfeld-Schor
- Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University , Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Muniyandi Singaravel
- Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi, India
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10
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Dausmann KH, Levesque DL, Wein J, Nowack J. Ambient Temperature Cycles Affect Daily Torpor and Hibernation Patterns in Malagasy Tenrecs. Front Physiol 2020; 11:522. [PMID: 32547412 PMCID: PMC7270353 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hibernation and daily torpor (heterothermy) allow endotherms to cope with demanding environmental conditions. The depth and duration of torpor bouts vary considerably between tropical and temperate climates, and tropical hibernators manage to cope with a wider spectrum of ambient temperature (Ta) regimes during heterothermy. As cycles in Ta can have profound effects on activity and torpor patterns as well as energy expenditure, we examined how these characteristics are affected by daily fluctuating versus constant Ta in a tropical hibernator, the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi). Throughout the study, regardless of season, the tenrecs became torpid every day. In summer, E. telfairi used daily fluctuations in Ta to passively rewarm from daily torpor, which led to synchrony in the activity phases and torpor bouts between individuals and generally decreased energy expenditure. In contrast, animals housed at constant Ta showed considerable variation in timing and they had to invest more energy through endogenous heat production. During the hibernation season (winter) E. telfairi hibernated for several months in constant, as well as in fluctuating Ta and, as in summer, under fluctuating Ta arousals were much more uniform and showed less variation in timing compared to constant temperature regimes. The timing of torpor is not only important for its effective use, but synchronization of activity patterns could also be essential for social interactions, and successful foraging bouts. Our results highlight that Ta cycles can be an effective zeitgeber for activity and thermoregulatory rhythms throughout the year and that consideration should be given to the choice of temperature regime when studying heterothermy under laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin H Dausmann
- Functional Ecology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Danielle L Levesque
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - Jens Wein
- Functional Ecology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Nowack
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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11
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Refinetti R. Circadian rhythmicity of body temperature and metabolism. Temperature (Austin) 2020; 7:321-362. [PMID: 33251281 PMCID: PMC7678948 DOI: 10.1080/23328940.2020.1743605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the literature on the circadian rhythms of body temperature and whole-organism metabolism. The two rhythms are first described separately, each description preceded by a review of research methods. Both rhythms are generated endogenously but can be affected by exogenous factors. The relationship between the two rhythms is discussed next. In endothermic animals, modulation of metabolic activity can affect body temperature, but the rhythm of body temperature is not a mere side effect of the rhythm of metabolic thermogenesis associated with general activity. The circadian system modulates metabolic heat production to generate the body temperature rhythm, which challenges homeothermy but does not abolish it. Individual cells do not regulate their own temperature, but the relationship between circadian rhythms and metabolism at the cellular level is also discussed. Metabolism is both an output of and an input to the circadian clock, meaning that circadian rhythmicity and metabolism are intertwined in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Refinetti
- Department of Psychology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA
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12
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Locomotor activity in field captured crepuscular four-striped field mice, Rhabdomys dilectus and nocturnal Namaqua rock mice, Micaelamys namaquensis during a simulated heat wave. J Therm Biol 2020; 87:102479. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.102479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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13
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Yassumoto TI, Tachinardi P, Oda GA, Valentinuzzi VS. Acute effects of light and darkness on the activity and temperature rhythms of a subterranean rodent, the Anillaco tuco-tuco. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112645. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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15
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Davimes JG, Alagaili AN, Bertelsen MF, Mohammed OB, Hemingway J, Bennett NC, Manger PR, Gravett N. Temporal niche switching in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx): Seasonal plasticity of 24h activity patterns in a large desert mammal. Physiol Behav 2017; 177:148-154. [PMID: 28431978 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The Arabian oryx, a moderately large mammal that inhabits a harsh desert environment, has been shown to exhibit seasonal variations in activity and inactivity patterns. Here we analyzed the continuous year-round activity patterns of twelve free-roaming Arabian oryx under natural conditions from two varying desert environments in Saudi Arabia using abdominally implanted activity meters. We simultaneously recorded weather parameters at both sites to determine whether environmental factors are responsible for temporal niche switching as well as the seasonal structuring and timing of this behavioural plasticity. Our results demonstrate that Arabian oryx undergo temporal niche switching of 24h activity patterns at a seasonal level and exhibit distinct nocturnal/crepuscular activity during summer, diurnal activity during winter and intermittent patterns of behaviour during the transitional seasons of autumn and spring. In addition, the oryx exhibited inter- and intra-seasonal variations in the temporal budgeting of 24h activity patterns. Strong relationships with both photoperiod and ambient temperatures were found and in some instances suggested that increasing ambient temperatures are a primary driving force behind seasonal shifts in activity patterns. These adaptive patterns may be dictated by the availability of food and water, which in turn are strongly influenced by seasonal climate variations. Overall, the adaptive responses of free-roaming Arabian oryx in such harsh and non-laboratorial conditions provide a framework for comparing wild populations as well as aiding conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua G Davimes
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Abdulaziz N Alagaili
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Centre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Osama B Mohammed
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jason Hemingway
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; South African Research Chair of Mammal Behavioural Ecology and Physiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nadine Gravett
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg, South Africa.
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16
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Martin-Cano FE, Caso-Agundez M, Camello-Almaraz C, Santos FJ, Espin MT, Madrid JA, Diez-Perez A, Camello PJ, Pozo MJ. Octodon degus, a new model to study the agonist and plexus-induced response in the urinary bladder. J Physiol Biochem 2016; 73:77-87. [PMID: 27738973 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-016-0527-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Urinary bladder function consists in the storage and controlled voiding of urine. Translational studies require animal models that match human characteristics, such as Octodon degus, a diurnal rodent. This study aims to characterize the contractility of the detrusor muscle and the morphology and code of the vesical plexus from O. degus. Body temperature was measured by an intra-abdominal sensor, the contractility of detrusor strips was evaluated by isometric tension recording, and the vesical plexus was studied by electrical field stimulation (EFS) and immunofluorescence. The animals showed a diurnal chronotype as judged from core temperature. The myogenic contractile response of the detrusor muscle to increasing doses of KCl reached its maximum (31.04 mN/mm2) at 60 mM. In the case of cumulative dose-response of bethanecol, the maximum response (37.42 mN/mm2) was reached at 3.2 × 10-4 M. The response to ATP was clearly smaller (3.8 mN/mm2). The pharmacological dissection of the EFS-induced contraction identified ACh and sensory fibers as the main contributors to this response. The neurons of the vesical plexus were located mainly in the trigone area, grouped in big and small ganglia. Out of them, 48.1 % of the neurons were nitrergic and 62.7 % cholinergic. Our results show functional and morphological similarities between the urinary bladder of O. degus and that of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Eduardo Martin-Cano
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | - Mercedes Caso-Agundez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | - Cristina Camello-Almaraz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | | | - María Teresa Espin
- Digestive Surgery Service, "Infanta Cristina" Hospital, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Madrid
- Chronobiology Laboratory, College of Biology, University of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Adolfo Diez-Perez
- Musculoskeletal research group, Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Envejecimiento y Fragilidad (RETICEF), ISCIII, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Javier Camello
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Pozo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Nursing and Occupational Therapy, University of Extremadura, 10003, Caceres, Spain.
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17
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Davimes JG, Alagaili AN, Gravett N, Bertelsen MF, Mohammed OB, Ismail K, Bennett NC, Manger PR. Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx) Respond to Increased Ambient Temperatures with a Seasonal Shift in the Timing of Their Daily Inactivity Patterns. J Biol Rhythms 2016; 31:365-74. [PMID: 27154303 DOI: 10.1177/0748730416645729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The Arabian oryx inhabits an environment where summer ambient temperatures can exceed 40 °C for extended periods of time. While the oryx uses a suite of adaptations that aid survival, the effects of this extreme environment on inactivity are unknown. To determine how the oryx manages inactivity seasonally, we measured the daily rhythm of body temperature and used fine-grain actigraphy, in 10 animals, to reveal when the animals were inactive in relation to ambient temperature and photoperiod. We demonstrate that during the cooler winter months, the oryx was inactive during the cooler parts of the 24-h day (predawn hours), showing a nighttime (nocturnal) inactivity pattern. In contrast, in the warmer summer months, the oryx displayed a bimodal inactivity pattern, with major inactivity bouts (those greater than 1 h) occurring equally during both the coolest part of the night (predawn hours) and the warmest part of the day (afternoon hours). Of note, the timing of the daily rhythm of body temperature did not vary seasonally, although the amplitude did change, leading to a seasonal alteration in the phase relationship between inactivity and the body temperature rhythm. Because during periods of inactivity the oryx were presumably asleep for much of the time, we speculate that the daytime shift in inactivity may allow the oryx to take advantage of the thermoregulatory physiology of sleep, which likely occurs when the animal is inactive for more than 1 h, to mitigate environmentally induced increases in body temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua G Davimes
- *School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Abdulaziz N Alagaili
- Department of Zoology, KSU Mammals Research Chair, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia Saudi Wildlife Authority, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nadine Gravett
- *School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Centre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Osama B Mohammed
- Department of Zoology, KSU Mammals Research Chair, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khairy Ismail
- Prince Saud Alfaisal Wildlife Research Center, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Department of Zoology, KSU Mammals Research Chair, College of Science, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Paul R Manger
- *School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
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18
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Scheibler E, Roschlau C, Brodbeck D. Lunar and temperature effects on activity of free-living desert hamsters (Phodopus roborovskii, Satunin 1903). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2014; 58:1769-1778. [PMID: 24408344 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-013-0782-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2013] [Revised: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Time management of truly wild hamsters was investigated in their natural habitat in Alashan desert, Inner Mongolia, China during summer of 2009, 2010, and 2012. Duration of activity outside their burrows, duration of foraging walks, and nocturnal inside stays were analyzed with the aim to elucidate impact of moon, ambient, and soil temperature. Animal data were determined using radio frequency identification (RFID) technique; for that purpose, individuals were caught in the field and marked with passive transponders. Their burrows were equipped with integrated microchip readers and photosensors for the detection of movements into or out of the burrow. Lunar impact was analyzed based on moon phase (full, waning, new, and waxing moons) and moon disk size. A prolongation of aboveground activity was shown with increasing moon disk size (Spearman ρ = 0.237; p = 0.025) which was caused by earlier onsets (p =-0.161; p = 0.048); additionally, foraging walks took longer (Pearson r = 0.037; p = 0.037). Temperature of different periods of time was analyzed, i.e., mean of whole day, of the activity phase, minimum, and maximum. Moreover, this was done for the current day and the previous 3 days. Overall, increasing ambient and soil temperatures were associated with shortening of activity by earlier offsets of activity and shorter nocturnal stays inside their burrows. Most influential temperatures for activity duration were the maximum ambient temperature, 3 days before (stepwise regression analysis R = 0.499; R² = 0.249; F = 7.281; p = 0.013) and soil temperature during activity phase, 1 day before (R = 0.644; R² = 0.283; F = 7.458; p = 0.004).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Scheibler
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biological Institute, University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany,
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19
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Otalora BB, Hagenauer MH, Rol MA, Madrid JA, Lee TM. Period Gene Expression in the Brain of a Dual-Phasing Rodent, the Octodon degus. J Biol Rhythms 2013; 28:249-61. [DOI: 10.1177/0748730413495521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Clock gene expression is not only confined to the master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) but is also found in many other brain regions. The phase relationship between SCN and extra-SCN oscillators may contribute to known differences in chronotypes. The Octodon degus is a diurnal rodent that can shift its activity-phase preference from diurnal to nocturnal when running wheels become available. To understand better the relationship between brain clock gene activity and chronotype, we studied the day-night expression of the Period genes, Per1 and Per2, in the SCN and extra-SCN brain areas in diurnal and nocturnal degus. Since negative masking to light and entrainment to the dark phase are involved in the nocturnalism of this species, we also compare, for the first time, Per expression between entrained (EN) and masked nocturnal (MN) degus. The brains of diurnal, MN, and EN degus housed with wheels were collected during the light (ZT4) and dark (ZT16) phases. Per1 and Per2 mRNA levels were analyzed by in situ hybridization. Within the SCN, signals for Per1 and Per2 were higher at ZT4 irrespective of chronotype. However, outside of the SCN, Per1 expression in the hippocampus of EN degus was out of phase (higher values at ZT16) with SCN values. Although a similar trend was seen in MN animals, this day-night difference in Per1 expression was not significant. Interestingly, daily differences in Per1 expression were not seen in the hippocampus of diurnal degus. For other putative brain areas analyzed (cortices, striatum, arcuate, ventromedial hypothalamus), no differences in Per1 levels were found between chronotypes. Both in diurnal and nocturnal degus, Per2 levels in the hippocampus and in the cingulate and piriform cortices were in phase with their activity rhythms. Thus, diurnal degus showed higher Per2 levels at ZT4, whereas in both types of nocturnal degus, Per2 expression was reversed, peaking at ZT16. Together, the present study supports the hypothesis that the mechanisms underlying activity-phase preference in diurnal and nocturnal mammals reside downstream from the SCN, but our data also indicate that there are fundamental differences between nocturnal masked and entrained degus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz B. Otalora
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Megan H. Hagenauer
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Maria A. Rol
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan A. Madrid
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Theresa M. Lee
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee–Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA
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20
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Ardiles AO, Ewer J, Acosta ML, Kirkwood A, Martinez AD, Ebensperger LA, Bozinovic F, Lee TM, Palacios AG. Octodon degus (Molina 1782): a model in comparative biology and biomedicine. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2013; 2013:312-8. [PMID: 23547147 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.emo071357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
One major goal of integrative and comparative biology is to understand and explain the interaction between the performance and behavior of animals in their natural environment. The Caviomorph, Octodon degu, is a native rodent species from Chile, and represents a unique model to study physiological and behavioral traits, including cognitive and sensory abilities. Degus live in colonies and have a well-structured social organization, with a mostly diurnal-crepuscular circadian activity pattern. More notable is the fact that in captivity, they reproduce and live between 5 and 7 yr and show hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease), diabetes, and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro O Ardiles
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile
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Lehmann M, Spoelstra K, Visser, ME, Helm B. Effects of Temperature on Circadian Clock and Chronotype: An Experimental Study on a Passerine Bird. Chronobiol Int 2012; 29:1062-71. [DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2012.707159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Tomotani BM, Flores DEFL, Tachinardi P, Paliza JD, Oda GA, Valentinuzzi VS. Field and laboratory studies provide insights into the meaning of day-time activity in a subterranean rodent (Ctenomys aff. knighti), the tuco-tuco. PLoS One 2012; 7:e37918. [PMID: 22649565 PMCID: PMC3359304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
South American subterranean rodents (Ctenomys aff. knighti), commonly known as tuco-tucos, display nocturnal, wheel-running behavior under light-dark (LD) conditions, and free-running periods >24 h in constant darkness (DD). However, several reports in the field suggested that a substantial amount of activity occurs during daylight hours, leading us to question whether circadian entrainment in the laboratory accurately reflects behavior in natural conditions. We compared circadian patterns of locomotor activity in DD of animals previously entrained to full laboratory LD cycles (LD12:12) with those of animals that were trapped directly from the field. In both cases, activity onsets in DD immediately reflected the previous dark onset or sundown. Furthermore, freerunning periods upon release into DD were close to 24 h indicating aftereffects of prior entrainment, similarly in both conditions. No difference was detected in the phase of activity measured with and without access to a running wheel. However, when individuals were observed continuously during daylight hours in a semi-natural enclosure, they emerged above-ground on a daily basis. These day-time activities consisted of foraging and burrow maintenance, suggesting that the designation of this species as nocturnal might be inaccurate in the field. Our study of a solitary subterranean species suggests that the circadian clock is entrained similarly under field and laboratory conditions and that day-time activity expressed only in the field is required for foraging and may not be time-dictated by the circadian pacemaker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara M. Tomotani
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danilo E. F. L. Flores
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Tachinardi
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José D. Paliza
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica (CRILAR), Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina
| | - Gisele A. Oda
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Verônica S. Valentinuzzi
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica (CRILAR), Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina
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Portaluppi F. The Medical Subject Headings® thesaurus remains inaccurate and incomplete for electronic indexing and retrieval of chronobiologic references. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2011. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2011.613619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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25
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Vivanco P, Otalora BB, Rol MA, Madrid JA. Dissociation of the circadian system of Octodon degus by T28 and T21 light-dark cycles. Chronobiol Int 2011; 27:1580-95. [PMID: 20854136 DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2010.510228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Octodon degus is a primarily diurnal rodent that presents great variation in its circadian chronotypes due to the interaction between two phase angles of entrainment, diurnal and nocturnal, and the graded masking effects of environmental light and temperature. The aim of this study was to test whether the circadian system of this diurnal rodent can be internally dissociated by imposing cycles shorter and longer than 24 h, and to determine the influence of degus chronotypes and wheel-running availability on such dissociation. To this end, wheel-running activity and body temperature rhythms were studied in degus subjected to symmetrical light-dark (LD) cycles of T28h and T21h. The results show that both T-cycles dissociate the degus circadian system in two different components: one light-dependent component (LDC) that is influenced by the presence of light, and a second non-light-dependent component (NLDC) that free-runs with a period different from the external lighting cycle. The LDC was more evident in the nocturnal than diurnal chronotype, and also when wheel running was available. Our results show that, in addition to rats and mice, degus must be added to the list of species that show an internal dissociation in their circadian rhythms when exposed to forced desynchronization protocols. The existence of a multioscillatory circadian system having two groups of oscillators with low coupling strength may explain the flexibility of degus chronotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Vivanco
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Otalora BB, Vivanco P, Madariaga AM, Madrid JA, Rol MA. Internal temporal order in the circadian system of a dual-phasing rodent, the Octodon degus. Chronobiol Int 2011; 27:1564-79. [PMID: 20854135 DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2010.503294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Daily rhythms in different biochemical and hematological variables have been widely described in either diurnal or nocturnal species, but so far no studies in the rhythms of these variables have been conducted in a dual-phasing species such as the degus. The Octodon degus is a rodent that has the ability to switch from diurnal to nocturnal activity under laboratory conditions in response to wheel-running availability. This species may help us discover whether a complete temporal order inversion occurs parallel to the inversion that has been observed in this rodent's activity pattern. The aim of the present study is to determine the phase relationships among 26 variables, including behavioral, physiological, biochemical, and hematological variables, during the day and at night, in diurnal and nocturnal degus chronotypes induced under controlled laboratory conditions through the availability of wheel running. A total of 39 male degus were individually housed under a 12:12 light-dark (LD) cycle, with free wheel-running access. Wheel-running activity (WRA) and body temperature (Tb) rhythms were recorded throughout the experiment. Melatonin, hematological, and biochemical variables were determined by means of blood samples obtained every 6 h (ZT1, ZT7, ZT13, and ZT19). In spite of great differences in WRA and Tb rhythms between nocturnal and diurnal degus, no such differences were observed in the temporal patterns of most of the biological variables analyzed for the two chronotypes. Variation was only found in plasma urea level and lymphocyte number. A slight delay in the phase of the melatonin rhythm was also observed. This study shows the internal temporal order of a dual-phasing mammal does not show a complete inversion in accordance with its activity and body temperature pattern; it would appear that the switching mechanism involved in the degu's nocturnalism is located downstream from the pacemaker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Baño Otalora
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Vivanco P, Rol MA, Madrid JA. Pacemaker phase control versus masking by light: setting the circadian chronotype in dual Octodon degus. Chronobiol Int 2010; 27:1365-79. [PMID: 20795881 DOI: 10.3109/07420528.2010.502984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
There are two main processes involved in the expression of circadian rhythmicity: entrainment and masking. Whereas the first operates via the central pacemaker to anticipate predictable environmental conditions, masking (mainly induced by light) functions as a direct modulator of the circadian output signal induced by nonpredictable events. The Chilean rodent Octodon degus presents both diurnal and nocturnal chronotypes when given free access to an exercise wheel. Two steady-entrainment phases and graded masking by light seem to generate the wide variability of chronotypes in this species. The aim of this study was to characterize the differential masking by light according to the individual chronotypes, their stability over time, and the influence of wheel running availability and ambient temperature upon the degus' nocturnality. To this end, diurnal and nocturnal degus were subjected to ultradian cycles (1:1-h light-dark [LD]), with and without wheel running availability, and under both normal and high diurnal ambient temperature cycles. The present results show that diurnal and nocturnal degus present a stable masking by light, each according to its respective chronotype. Thus, whereas diurnal animals increased their activity with light, in nocturnal degus light induced a sharp drop in wheel running activity. These two types of masking responses appeared not only when the animals were synchronized to the 12:12-h LD cycle, but also under ultradian cycles. Different masking effects persisted when wheel running was made unavailable and when the animals shifted their circadian activity patterns in response to ultradian cycles or to diurnal exposure to high temperatures. In conclusion, our results show that the positive and negative masking effects of light on diurnal and nocturnal degus, respectively, seem to occur independently of relative phase control by the central pacemaker or the negative masking induced by high environmental temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Vivanco
- Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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