Environmental influence on the locomotor activity rhythm of the sand-shore amphipodTalorchestia deshayesi

✍ Scribed by J. A. Williams

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 683 KB
• Volume: 69
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0025-3162
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00396962

✦ Synopsis

The precision and persistence of the nocturnal, surface locomotor activity rhythm of the sand-beach amphipod Talorchestia deshayesi is described. The rhythm is expressed as a circadian activity period with no evidence of a circa-tidal component associated with the time of high tide. The rhythm is light-sensitive and entrainment occurs in response to changes in the time of an experimentally simulated 'dusk' transition. Locomotor activity is initiated at the end of the 'dusk' transition with cessation always occurring prior to 'dawn'. The point of activity initiation is taken to be the position of a synchronizing cue controlling entrainment. The cue appears to be an absolute irradiance level of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 • 10 -4 W m -2.