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Circadian locomotor activity rhythms of the burbot,Lota lota: Seasonal differences in period length and the effect of pinealectomy

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Summary

The burbot,Lota lota, displayed a freerunning circadian locomotor activity rhythm under constant darkness. There was a seasonal change in the length of the circadian period (τ). Fish captured during winter had a meanτ of 21.2±0.30 h as opposed to aτ of 23.5±0.25 in summer. Removal of the pineal organ had significant effects on the length and stability of the circadian period. Furthermore, the pineal influences on period length varied with season (Fig. 4). In winter,τ was significantly lengthened (22.1±0.30 h to 23.4±0.50 h) while in summer,τ was significantly shortened (23.5±0.25 h to 21.9±0.50 h).

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Author notes

  1. Martin Kavaliers

    Present address: Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State University, 80523, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, T6G 2E9, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Martin Kavaliers

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  1. Martin Kavaliers
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Additional information

This work was supported by a National Research Council of Canada grant to D.M. Ross (NRC-1445) and by the Department of Zoology, University of Alberta. I would like to thank Dr. B. Firth and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Kavaliers, M. Circadian locomotor activity rhythms of the burbot,Lota lota: Seasonal differences in period length and the effect of pinealectomy. J. Comp. Physiol. 136, 215–218 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00657535

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00657535

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