Grazing activity of the Mediterranean rocky shore limpet Patella caerulea was measured in the laboratory to establish the presence of endogenous components of behaviour and how these are entrained by external cues. After acclimation to laboratory conditions, limpets were exposed to one of the following experimental treatments for 5 consecutive days: (1) natural tidal oscillation and illumination cycle; (2) constant submergence and natural illumination cycle; (3) constant submergence and constant light. Under natural illumination and tidal regimes, grazing activity, measured as rasping rate, followed a circatidal rhythm, but was also influenced by light changes since it was concentrated during nighttime high-tide periods. Periodogram analysis detected significant activity peaks corresponding to 12.4/24.8 hr. When limpets were exposed to constant submergence and natural illumination, activity took on a circadian periodicity, with significant peaks at 12 and 24 hr. Finally, in the absence of any external cue, a circatidal free-running rhythm was observed. In summary, the results suggest the existence of a circatidal pacemaker, albeit one that can be easily overridden by external cues.
Temporal determinants of grazing activity in the Mediterranean limpet Patella caerulea / D. Parpagnoli;S. Pecchioli;G. Santini. - In: ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION. - ISSN 0394-9370. - STAMPA. - 25:(2013), pp. 388-399. [10.1080/03949370.2013.808705]
Temporal determinants of grazing activity in the Mediterranean limpet Patella caerulea
SANTINI, GIACOMO
2013
Abstract
Grazing activity of the Mediterranean rocky shore limpet Patella caerulea was measured in the laboratory to establish the presence of endogenous components of behaviour and how these are entrained by external cues. After acclimation to laboratory conditions, limpets were exposed to one of the following experimental treatments for 5 consecutive days: (1) natural tidal oscillation and illumination cycle; (2) constant submergence and natural illumination cycle; (3) constant submergence and constant light. Under natural illumination and tidal regimes, grazing activity, measured as rasping rate, followed a circatidal rhythm, but was also influenced by light changes since it was concentrated during nighttime high-tide periods. Periodogram analysis detected significant activity peaks corresponding to 12.4/24.8 hr. When limpets were exposed to constant submergence and natural illumination, activity took on a circadian periodicity, with significant peaks at 12 and 24 hr. Finally, in the absence of any external cue, a circatidal free-running rhythm was observed. In summary, the results suggest the existence of a circatidal pacemaker, albeit one that can be easily overridden by external cues.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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